Perfusion
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We aimed to investigate the risk factors affecting survival after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use in pediatric postcardiotomy patients. ⋯ Parameters affecting mortality after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in pediatric postcardiotomy patient group were the presence of a syndrome, multiple runs of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and single-ventricular physiology. Timing of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initiation, appropriate patient selection, appropriate reintervention or reoperation for patients with correctable pathology, the use of an appropriate cannulation strategy in single-ventricle patients, management of shunt flow, and appropriate interventions to reduce the incidence of complications play key roles in improving survival.
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The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of protocolized use of catheter-directed thrombolysis and echocardiography in submassive pulmonary embolism patients. ⋯ This retrospective study demonstrates the effectiveness of protocolized use of catheter-directed thrombolysis and echocardiography in reversing severe right heart dysfunction in submassive pulmonary embolism patients.
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The SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) coronavirus has emerged as a highly contagious respiratory pathogen causing severe acute lung injury. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a standard tool for the management of life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome, but the use of this resource-intensive therapy has come into question due to strained medical systems and limited proven treatments for COVID-19. ⋯ We report the use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung recovery in a pediatric patient with severe pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19.
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Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may be used to support patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. Many patients can be successfully weaned, the ability of some medications to facilitate weaning from veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were reported. To date, there are limited studies investigating the impact of levosimendan on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation weaning. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effects of levosimendan on successful weaning from veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and survival in adult patients with cardiogenic shock. ⋯ The use of levosimendan on adult patients with cardiogenic shock may facilitate the veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation weaning and reduce all-cause mortality. Few articles of this topic are available, and prospective, randomized multi-center trials are warranted to conclude decisively on the benefits of levosimendan in this setting.
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While there is evidence to support the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome due to a variety of causes, its use in chlorine gas-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome has not been described in the English medical literature. We present a young girl who had severe acute respiratory distress syndrome following exposure to chlorine gas during the disinfection process at a swimming pool. She failed conventional management and underwent venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ⋯ Chlorine gas was the first agent of chemical warfare which caused a massive death toll during the First World War. Even today, the chemical is produced in large quantities and the threat of a large-scale leak is ever-present from industrial accidents or terrorist attacks. The criteria to assess and manage chlorine gas-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome are likely to be the same as for other causes of acute respiratory distress syndrome and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can be used successfully.