Perfusion
-
Optimal red blood cell transfusion practice during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) is still under debate. This survey aimed to assess the Hb trigger (also comparing with other critically ill patients) and major physiologic determinants considered for transfusions during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ⋯ Although the use of a predefined Hb trigger is still under-adopted among centers with low or median extracorporeal membrane oxygenation case volume, the majority of respondents use a higher Hb trigger for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients compared with other critically ill patients. Higher volume centers tolerate lower Hb levels.
-
Data on management of severe accidental hypothermia published from an established high-volume extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centre are scarce. ⋯ Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe hypothermia shows promising outcome data collected in an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation/extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation centre located in a European urban area. Except for presence of refractory cardiac arrest, the established hypothermia-related prognostic indicators did not differ between patients in need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and those rewarmed without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
-
The positive impact of minimally invasive extracorporeal circuits (MiECC) on patient outcome is expected to be most evident in patients with limited physiologic reserves. Nevertheless, most studies have limited their use to low-risk patients undergoing myocardial revascularization. As such, there is little evidence to their benefit outside this patient population. We, therefore, set out to explore their potential benefit in octogenarians undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) with or without concomitant myocardial revascularization. ⋯ MiECCs have a positive influence on the outcome of octogenarians undergoing AVR with or without concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting. Their use should, therefore, be extended beyond isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
-
Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, indicated for severe cardio-respiratory failure, may result in anatomic regional differences in oxygen saturation. This depends on cannulation, hemodynamic state, and severity of respiratory failure. Differential hypoxemia, often discrete, may cause clinical problems in peripheral femoro-femoral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, when the upper body is perfused with low saturated blood from the heart and the lower body with well-oxygenated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation blood. ⋯ A possible solution is implantation of an additional jugular venous return cannula. In this article, we propose an even better solution, to drain the venous blood from the superior vena cava. Drainage from the superior vena cava provides superiority to venovenoarterial configuration in terms of physiological rationale, efficiency, safety, and simplicity in clinical circuit design.
-
Mesenchymal stem cells exhibit immunomodulatory properties which are currently being investigated as a novel treatment option for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. However, the feasibility and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in the setting of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is poorly understood. This study aimed to characterise markers of innate immune activation in response to mesenchymal stem cells during an ex vivo simulation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ⋯ The addition of mesenchymal stem cells during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may cause an increase in transforming growth factor-β1. This is despite their ability to adhere to the membrane oxygenator. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.