Artificial organs
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Refractory cardiogenic shock (RCS) is associated with a high mortality. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is increasingly used as acute cardiopulmonary support but selection of VA-ECMO candidates remains challenging. There are limited data on which pre-VA-ECMO variables that predict outcome. ⋯ Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified arterial lactate (odds ratio [OR] per mmol/L: 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.24; P = 0.001) and number of inotropes and vasopressors (OR per agent: 2.14; 95% CI: 1.26-3.63; P = 0.005) as independent predictors of 90-day mortality. In RCS patients arterial lactate level and number of inotropes and vasopressors were identified as independent pre-VA-ECMO predictors of 90-day mortality. Thus, the severity of cardiogenic shock expressed as levels of lactate and vasoactive agents just before start of VA-ECMO may be more predictive of outcome than the specific etiology of cardiogenic shock.
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Several articles have discussed the weaning process for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; however, there is no published report to outline a standardized approach for weaning a patient from venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This complex process requires an organized approach and a thorough understanding of ventilator management and ECMO physiology. The purpose of this article is to describe the venovenous ECMO weaning protocol used at our institution as well as provide a review of the literature.
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Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is indicated in reversible life-threatening circulatory failure with or without respiratory failure. Arterial desaturation in the upper body is frequently seen in patients with peripheral arterial cannulation and severe respiratory failure. The importance of venous cannula positioning was explored in a computer simulation model and a clinical case was described. ⋯ The patient survived, was extubated and showed no signs of hypoxic damage. We conclude that venous drainage from the superior caval vein improves upper body arterial saturation during veno-arterial ECMO as compared with drainage solely from the inferior caval vein in patients with respiratory failure. The results from the simulation model are in agreement with the clinical scenario.
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The objective of this study was to compare three different hemoconcentrators (Hemocor HPH 400, Mini, and Junior) with two different neonatal ECMO circuits using a roller or a centrifugal pump at different pseudo-patient pressures and flow rates in terms of hemodynamic properties. This evidence-based research is necessary to optimize the ECMO circuitry for neonates. The circuits used a 300-mL soft-shell reservoir as a pseudo-patient approximating the blood volume of a 3 kg neonate, two blood pumps, and a Quadrox-iD Pediatric oxygenator with three different in-line hemoconcentrators (Hemocor HPH 400, Mini, and Junior). ⋯ While the THE delivered to the patient indicates similar perfusion for these patients with any of the three hemoconcentrators, the differences in added resistance to the circuit may impact the decision of which hemoconcentrator is used. There was no clinically significant difference between the two circuits with the roller versus centrifugal pump in terms of hemodynamic properties in this study. Further in vivo research is warranted to confirm our findings.
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It is essential to establish an appropriate initial treatment strategy for pediatric fulminant myocarditis. We reviewed eight cases of pediatric fulminant myocarditis that required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) from 2012 to 2015. The median age was 8 years (range 3 months-13 years), and the median body surface area was 0.89 m(2) (range 0.35-1.34 m(2) ). ⋯ The duration from hospital arrival to ECMO initiation was shorter in the survival (3.3 ± 1.3 h; range 1.6-4.7 h) than in the nonsurvival group (32 ± 28 h; range 0.7-55 h). Peripheral ECMO can be useful as a bridge to decision for pediatric fulminant myocarditis, which is frequently followed by a successful bridge to recovery. It is important to determine whether ECMO support should be initiated before organ dysfunction advances to preserve organ function, which provides a better bridge to subsequent VAD therapy and heart transplant or recovery.