The International journal of artificial organs
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Decisions on weaning from veno-venous extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) requires the ability to maintain adequate gas exchange and work of breathing with reductions in ECMO pump flow and fresh gas flow. Testing of the readiness to wean the patient from ECMO however may vary dependent upon local protocols and clinical judgment. This study sought to validate the use of the LUS-score during VV-ECMO against the changes in chest x-ray infiltrates, dynamic lung compliance (CLdyn) and VV-ECMO settings (as standard measures of native lung function and the level of ECMO support) during the ECMO cycle. ⋯ Seven Male and three Female patients were included (average age 37 years (SD 14.8) and weight 71 Kg (SD 16.9). Median (IQR) duration of ECMO, ICU and hospital length of stay was 7.5 days (5.2-19.0), 12.5 days (8.5-22.7), 19.0 days (12.1- 36.1), respectively. There was a strong negative association between LUS-score and dynamic lung compliance (rs(33) = -0.66, p < .001) providing some validation on the use of the LUS score as a potential surrogate measure of lung aeration and lung mechanics during VV-ECMO weaning.
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Thoracic trauma is the most common injury in polytrauma patients. Often associated with the development of an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), conservative treatment options are very restricted and reach their limits quickly. ⋯ ECMO therapy in polytrauma patients is a safe and effective option, in particular when used early in ARDS treatment. The overall severity of organ failure determined the likelihood of survival rather than the thoracic trauma itself.
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Excessive pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines are mediators for haemodynamic alterations, metabolic acidosis, and multi-organ failure in sepsis. Recently, oXiris® haemofilter (Baxter, IL, USA) has been introduced as a novel haemofilter to mitigate inflammatory response during sepsis-associated acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy. In the present case series, the researchers retrospectively reviewed critically ill patients with septic shock with the use of at least one oXiris haemofilter during continuous renal replacement therapy between June 2015 and December 2017. ⋯ In conclusion, continuous renal replacement therapy with oXiris haemofilter is safe and may improve haemodynamic parameters in septic patients with severe renal dysfunction. Nonetheless, these findings were drawn from a retrospective analysis without a control group, and therefore cannot be generalised. Randomised controlled trials are warranted to confirm these findings.
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The aim of this study is to review the impacts of aggressive placement of a distal perfusion catheter on the outcomes in patients supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation via femoral cannulation. ⋯ Aggressive insertion of a distal perfusion catheter even utilizing surgical cut-down technique was shown to decrease the incidence of distal limb complications.
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Observational Study
Model for end-stage liver disease scores in veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a valuable therapeutic approach in patients with severe heart failure due to different etiologies. Current prognosis with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is unsatisfactory, and the risk stratification is still challenging. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the predictive value of different baseline model for end-stage liver disease scores for survival in patients with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ⋯ Model for end-stage liver disease, modified model for end-stage liver disease, and model for end-stage liver disease with sodium scores could be useful in the risk stratification of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment in varying clinical indications.