Perfusion
-
Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is a treatment option to correct blood oxygenation in cases of severe respiratory failure. However, it is time-limited and, in cases of no- recovery, it is a bridge-to-lung transplant therapy. We report our experience of two patients waiting for emergency lung transplantation under VV-ECMO using the Avalon® cannula. ⋯ Ultimately, both patients died from multi-organ failure due to the absence of available donor organs. Few cases having been described up until now, but the addition of a second venous drainage cannula to the Avalon® system could potentially improve hemodynamic parameters and, therefore, stabilize hypoxemic patients. This may be an option to gain time in long-lasting VV-ECMO support as a potential life-saving attempt.
-
We present a female patient with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) necessitating intubation and mechanical ventilation on the intensive care unit (ICU). High ventilatory pressures were needed because of hypoxia and severe hypercapnia with respiratory acidosis, resulting in right ventricular dysfunction with impaired haemodynamic stability. ⋯ Within one week, the patient was weaned from both ECCO2R and mechanical ventilation. Besides providing adequate gas exchange, extracorporeal assist devices may be helpful in ameliorating right ventricular dysfunction during ARDS.
-
Case Reports
Minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation resuscitation in hypothermic cardiac arrest.
Current guidelines for the treatment of hypothermic cardiocirculatory arrest recommend extracorporeal life support and rewarming, using cardiopulmonary bypass or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuits. Both have design-related shortcomings which may result in prolonged reperfusion time or insufficient oxygen delivery to vital organs. This article describes clear advantages of minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation systems during emergency extracorporeal life support in hypothermic arrest. ⋯ During rewarming on the mobile circuit, trauma surveys were completed and the treatment initiated. Normothermic weaning was successful on the first attempt, trauma surgery was completed and the patient survived neurologically intact. For extracorporeal resuscitation from hypothermic arrest, minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation offers all the advantages of conventional cardiopulmonary bypass and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation systems without their shortcomings.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluation of different types of inferior vena cava cannulae placement by transesophageal echocardiography and its impact on hepatic dysfunction.
Postoperative hepatic dysfunction may occur in an otherwise uncomplicated open heart surgery. One of the reasons is malpositioning of the inferior vena cava (IVC) cannula in the hepatic vein (HV) or beyond. A straight cannula is considered more likely to be malpositioned compared to the angled cannula and a malpositioned cannula can lead to hepatic dysfunction. ⋯ TEE can be used to monitor IVC cannula position. A higher frequency of cannula malposition was observed with the straight cannula compared to the angled cannula, but was not found to be associated with hepatic dysfunction.
-
The intention of the present study was to evaluate possible cardioprotective properties of inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane. ⋯ Inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane seems superior to intravenous anesthesia with propofol in acute right ventricular ischemic dysfunction.