ASAIO journal : a peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs
-
The authors analyzed factors that may influence the outcome of adult patients with respiratory failure who were treated with ECMO. Between December 1990 and July 1995, the authors used ECMO to support 33 patients (age range, 17-56 years) with respiratory failure from adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS; n = 9), primary graft failure after lung transplantation (n = 16), late graft failure after lung transplantation (n = 5), and miscellaneous reasons (n = 3). Twenty (61%) patients were successfully weaned from ECMO, and 13 (39%) survived to hospital discharge. ⋯ Compared with the nonsurvivors, survivors had higher PF ratios (PaO2/FIO2; 104 +/- 33 vs 81 +/- 8, p = 0.43) before ECMO was initiated, although the differences were not significant. Among the patients who received ECMO for primary graft failure, 75% were weaned from ECMO, and 56% survived to discharge. ECMO is beneficial for adult patients with respiratory failure, especially those with primary graft failure after lung transplantation.
-
Comparative Study
Validation of a new method to measure cardiac output during extracorporeal detoxification.
Cardiac output was measured in 11 patients during extra-corporeal detoxification after open heart surgery. All patients were mechanically ventilated and had pulmonary artery catheters for cardiac output (COT) measured by thermodilution. A sensor on the arterial side of the extracorporeal circulation measured flow and sound velocity transients. ⋯ The regression equation was COUD = 1.09 x COT-0.32 (r = 0.97, n = 31). These data suggest agreement between the ultrasound dilution technique and thermodilution. Ultrasound dilution is preferable in patients undergoing extracorporeal detoxification when pulmonary artery catheterization is not required or dangerous.
-
One of the limitations of conventional silicone hollow fiber oxygenators compared with microporous membrane oxygenators is poor gas permeability. However, the silicone hollow fiber is free from plasma leakage, which is the major life limiting factor of the microporous membrane oxygenator. It has been difficult to fabricate a fine, thin hollow fiber for reduction of resistance to gas permeability because of the poor mechanical strength of conventional silicone materials. ⋯ Gas transfer performance of the newly developed oxygenator was evaluated by in vitro experiments. Oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer rates were 195 ml/min and 165 ml/min, at a blood flow rate 3 L/min. The novel silicone membrane oxygenator developed in this study can be used for extended duration in such applications as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
-
Comparative Study
Determinants of clinical results of mechanical circulatory support for ventricular failure after cardiotomy.
To clarify determinants of clinical results of circulatory support for ventricular failure after cardiotomy, we examined 53 patients (33 men and 20 women) who underwent circulatory support for post operative heart failure from 1984 to October 1995. Their ages ranged from 22 to 74 years (mean, 51 years). In 53 patients, 32 had valvular, 19 had ischemic, and 2 had congenital heart disease. ⋯ Peri-operative variables before and during circulatory support were analyzed multivariately by logistic regression analysis. Selected independent determinants (odds ratio) of significant difference (p < .05) were type of support (7.547) for non weaning and pre support cardiogenic shock (17.246), and type of support (8.780) and support duration (1.487) for mortality. These results suggest that early application before profound shock and appropriate selection of type of support might be key factors in successful circulatory support for ventricular failure occurring after cardiotomy.
-
Clinical Trial
Reduction of blood activation in patients receiving aprotinin during cardiopulmonary bypass for coronary artery surgery.
Aprotinin reduces blood loss after cardiac surgery, particularly in patients taking aspirin. This study was performed to evaluate whether the reduction of contact phase activation by aprotinin is related to decreased complement activation during blood activation. Two hundred patients were prospectively operated on for coronary artery bypass. ⋯ In addition, thrombin generation, as assessed by F1 + 2 scission peptide, was reduced by aprotinin (p = 0.01). However, the stepwise regression model emphasized that activation of the alternative and classic complement pathways, as reflected by C3b/c and C4b/c levels, was not affected by aprotinin; neither was leukocyte activation, as reflected by elastase release. These results suggest that aprotinin does not combine the reduction of complement activation with the reduced activation of the contact phase, fibrinolysis, or coagulation during CPB for coronary artery surgery.