Perfusion
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A large proportion of critically ill H1N1/2009 patients with respiratory failure subsequently developed ARDS and, to date, about 400 patients receiving extracorporeal life support (ECLS) have been accounted for globally, with a reported survival rate from 63% to 79%. The survival rates of patients with ARDS due to non-H1N1/2009 infections are similar. ⋯ Both have the potential to correct respiratory failure and related haemodynamic instability. There are only a very limited number of clinical trials to test either and, although ECLS has been used in treating H1N1/2009 patients with ARDS with some success, it should only be offered in the context of clinical trials and in experienced centres.
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Case Reports
Improvement in long-term ECMO by detailed monitoring of anticoagulation: a case report.
The use of unfractionated heparin (UFH) as an anticoagulant during long-term extracorporeal support presents a unique challenge for the clinician in balancing the amount of anticoagulant to maintain adequate anticoagulation without causing excessive bleeding. Activated clotting times (ACT) and activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTT) are the most common modality to monitor UFH on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Limitations to these tests include consumptive coagulopathies, clotting factor deficiencies, platelet dysfunction, and fibrinolysis. The following case report describes the use of alternative monitoring strategies to assess more accurately anticoagulation during ECMO. ⋯ Monitoring of anti-Xa UFH and AT proved effective for measuring anticoagulation and detecting inconsistencies in other anticoagulation parameters, leading to steady levels of heparin without further complications.
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Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) can be a potential cause of morbidity in patients for several reasons, including significantly higher gaseous microemboli (GME) formation than extracorporeal life support (ECLS) and physiological circulation, diverted blood flow from the patient via an open purge line of the arterial filter, and pressure drop across the oxygenator that is used in the circuit. Using a combined oxygenator and arterial filter may minimize these harmful factors and can effectively reduce the chances for postoperative morbidity. This study investigated the new QUADROX-i Neonatal Oxygenator (D-72145, Maquet, Hirrlingen, Germany) with an integrated arterial filter in terms of the hemodynamic properties and ability to clear GME in response to hypothermic versus normothermic conditions, open versus closed arterial filter purge line, and varying flow rates in a simulated CPB circuit identical to that of the clinical setting. ⋯ A total of 8 air bolus injections were made at each individual set of conditions for a total of 96 injections. Results showed that the QUADROX-i Neonatal Oxygenator with an integrated filter has excellent hemodynamic properties with extremely low pressure drops and blood flow diverted from the patient, as well as high rates of GME capturing. The arterial filter purge line has a significant effect on the degree of blood flow diverted from the patient (p < 0.001), but does not affect pressure drop across the oxygenator.
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We report on a 49-year-old male patient who suffered from severe herpes simplex (HSV) pneumonia after a fall-from-height injury, causing a circumscript type B aortic dissection. The subsequent occurrence of ARDS required a veno-venous ECMO circuit that was upgraded to a veno-arterial system due to further oxygenation deficits. ⋯ After the onset of recovery and because of a developing of a disseminated intravasal coagulation, the double ECMO circuit was replaced by a pumpless extracorporeal lung assist system (PECLA). The patient recovered completely under systemic virostatic therapy.