The Journal of extra-corporeal technology
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J Extra Corpor Technol · Jun 2015
Using Daily Plasma-Free Hemoglobin Levels for Diagnosis of Critical Pump Thrombus in Patients Undergoing ECMO or VAD Support.
Patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or short-term centrifugal ventricular assist devices (VADs) are at risk for potential elevation of plasma-free hemoglobin (pfHb) during treatment. The use of pfHb testing allows detection of subclinical events with avoidance of propagating injury. Among 146 patients undergoing ECMO and VAD from 2009 to 2014, five patients experienced rapid increases in pfHb levels over 100 mg/dL. ⋯ Two of the three patients who survived to discharge also experienced acute kidney injury, which was attributed to pfHb elevations. The kidney injury resolved over time. The architecture of centrifugal pumps may have indirectly contributed to red blood cell damage due to thrombus, originally from the venous line or venous cannula, being snared in the pump fins or pump head.
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J Extra Corpor Technol · Jun 2015
Review Historical ArticleThe History of Goal-Directed Therapy and Relevance to Cardiopulmonary Bypass.
Goal-directed therapy is a patient care strategy that has been implemented to improve patient outcomes. The strategy includes aggressive patient management and monitoring during a period of critical care. Goal-directed therapy has been adapted to perfusion and has been designated goal-directed perfusion (GDP). ⋯ Data from these studies was compiled to document improvements in patient outcomes. Goal-directed therapy has been demonstrated to improve patient outcomes when performed within the optimal time frame resulting in decreased complications, reduction in hospital stay, and a decrease in morbidity. Based on the successes in other critical care areas, GDP during cardiopulmonary bypass would be expected to improve outcomes following cardiac surgery.