Emergency and prophylactic use of miniaturized veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation modify the effect of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on left ventricular function in cardiogenic shock

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is widely used in the treatment of patients experiencing cardiogenic shock (CS). However, increased VA-ECMO blood flow (EBF) may significantly impair left ventricular (LV) performance. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of VA-ECMO on LV function in acute CS with concomitant severe aortic stenosis (AS) or mitral regurgitation (MR) in a porcine model. Eight female swine (45 kg) underwent VA-ECMO implantation under general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation. Acute CS was induced by global myocardial hypoxia. Subsequently, severe AS was simulated by obstruction of the aortic valve, while severe MR was induced by mechanical destruction of the mitral valve. Haemodynamic and LV performance variables were measured at different rates of EBF rates (ranging from 1 to 4 L/min), using arterial and venous catheters, a pulmonary artery catheter, and LV pressure-volume catheter. Data are expressed as median (interquartile range). Myocardial hypoxia resulted in declines in cardiac output to 2.7 (1.9-3.1) L/min and LV ejection fraction to 15.2% (10.5-19.3%). In severe AS, increasing EBF from 1 to 4 L/min was associated with a significant elevation in mean arterial pressure (MAP), from 33.5 (24.2-34.9) to 56.0 (51.9-73.3) mmHg (P ˂ 0.01). However, LV volumes (end-diastolic, end-systolic, stroke) remained unchanged, and LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) significantly decreased from 24.9 (21.2-40.0) to 19.1 (15.2-29.0) mmHg (P ˂ 0.01). In severe MR, increasing EBF resulted in a significant elevation in MAP from 49.0 (28.0-53.4) to 72.5 (51.4-77.1) mmHg (P ˂ 0.01); LV volumes remained stable and LVEDP increased from 17.1 (13.7-19.1) to 20.8 (16.3-25.6) mmHg (P ˂ 0.01). Results of this study indicate that the presence of valvular heart disease may alleviate negative effect of VA-ECMO on LV performance in CS. Severe AS fully protected against LV overload, and partial protection was also detected with severe MR, although at the cost of increased LVEDP and, thus, higher risk for pulmonary oedema.

Retrograde balloon aortic valvuloplasty with the newly invented Inoue balloon for aortic stenosis accompanied by severe heart failure: A case report

Retrograde balloon aortic valvuloplasty using the newly invented Inoue balloon was one of the feasible and safe therapeutic options in a hemodynamically unstable patient having aortic stenosis with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction complicated with bacterial infection.

Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to transcatheter aortic valve replacement in a patient with aortic stenosis and severe coronary artery disease: a case report

Background

Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) often present with multiple comorbidities and suffer from critical coronary artery disease (CAD). Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the therapy of choice for moderate to high-risk patients. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (v-a-ECMO) offers the possibility of temporary cardiac support to manage life-threatening critical situations.

Case summary

Here, we describe the management of a patient with severe AS and CAD with impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We used v-a-ECMO as an emergency strategy in cardiogenic shock during a high-risk coronary intervention to stabilize the patient, and as a further bridge to TAVR.

Discussion

Very high-risk patients with severe AS are unlikely to tolerate the added risk of surgical aortic valve replacement. Using ECMO may help them to benefit from TAVR as the only treatment option available.

Protected complex percutaneous coronary intervention and transcatheter aortic valve replacement using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a high-risk frail patient: a case report

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has become a routine procedure for patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis at increased surgical risk. Not much is known about using prophylactic support with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement and eventually concomitant complex percutaneous coronary intervention.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a successful procedure of transcatheter aortic valve replacement and high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention utilizing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for hemodynamic support in a very frail 88-year-old Caucasian woman with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and coronary bypass grafting in the past. Echocardiography revealed a "low-flow low-gradient" aortic stenosis (mean transvalvular gradient 30 mmHg, aortic valve area 0.4 cm², significant calcification), a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35%, severe mitral regurgitation with moderate stenosis (mean transvalvular gradient 7 mmHg), with a systolic pulmonary artery pressure of 80 mmHg. Moreover, pre-interventional coronary angiography exposed a severe left main ostial stenosis and sequential subtotal heavily calcified stenosis of the left anterior descending artery . Computed tomographic angiography showed no heavy tortuosity but moderate calcification of the iliofemoral arteries. The procedure was performed under general anesthesia in our hybrid operating room. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was established by left femoral percutaneous cannulation using a 21-Fr venous and 15-Fr arterial cannula. Subsequently, complex percutaneous coronary intervention with implantation of two drug-eluting stents from the left main into the left anterior descending artery was performed via a right femoral arterial 7F sheath. Thereafter, a 23-mm Sapien 3 aortic valve prosthesis (Edwards, Irvine, CA, USA) was implanted via right femoral artery in the usual manner, whereby the arterial pigtail catheter for marking the aortic annulus during transcatheter aortic valve replacement was inserted over a Check-Flo® Hemostasis Assembly (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN, USA) on a Y-adapter via the arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannula. After extracorporeal membrane oxygenation decannulation, vascular closure was easily performed using the MANTA vascular closure device in order to reduce procedural time and risk of access site complications.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, we demonstrate the feasibility of elective prophylactic extracorporeal membrane oxygenation implementation in selected very high-risk and frail patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement and percutaneous coronary intervention in order to avoid intraprocedural complications.

Transapical mitral valve-in-valve procedure with elective venoarterial ECMO in a patient with severe kyphoscoliosis

Transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve replacement (TMVR) is a feasible alternative in high-risk patients requiring reoperation for failing mitral bioprosthesis. Such patients may present with hemodynamic instability or sudden complications, which may jeopardize the outcomes. We report a successful transapical TMVR in a patient, with severe kyphoscoliosis and on prolonged mechanical ventilation, with prophylactic extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support. This combined procedure may be helpful to reduce the complications of TMVR in critically ill subjects.

[Transcatheter aortic valve implantation under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation]

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become the standard treatment for advanced age and high risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. The incidence of life-threatening complications during TAVI has significantly decreased over the last decade due to advanced current surgical experience. However, there is a risk of perioperative life-threatening complications which can require emergency hemodynamic support. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may represent an effective strategy for immediate hemodynamic stabilization until further treatment of the underlying complication. It is presented case report of TAVI under ECMO performed at the Kemerovo Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases. Emergency ECMO represents a feasible strategy for stabilization until further treatment of life-threatening complications during TAVI.

Cardiac catheterization and percutaneous intervention procedures on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used to support critically ill patients when conventional therapies have failed. ECMO has been available for four decades and has gained use as a rescue therapy in severe refractory hypoxic disorders and in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock (RCS). Over recent years, several percutaneous cardiac interventions and implant devices have been developed that are now used frequently in conjunction with ECMO in order to maintain organ perfusion. Here, we review the literature on VA-ECMO cannulation location, the use of VA-ECMO in interventions (e.g., coronary interventions and structural heart interventions) and percutaneous cardiac device implantation in VA-ECMO recipients with RCS.

Periprocedural Cardiopulmonary Bypass or Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

There are limited data on the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) or cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to provide hemodynamic support periprocedurally during transcatheter aortic valve replacement. This study sought to evaluate patients receiving transcatheter aortic valve replacement with concomitant use of CPB/VA-ECMO.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We systematically reviewed the published literature from 2000 to 2018 for studies evaluating adult patients requiring CPB/VA-ECMO periprocedurally during transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Studies reporting short-term and long-term mortality were included. Given the significant methodological and statistical differences between published studies, meta-analysis of the association of CPB/VA-ECMO with mortality was not performed. Of the 537 studies identified, 9 studies representing 5191 patients met our inclusion criteria. Median ages were between 75 and 87 years with 33% to 75% male patients. Where reported, the Edwards SAPIEN™ transcatheter heart valve was the most frequently used. A total of 203 (3.9%) patients received periprocedural hemodynamic support with CPB/VA-ECMO. Common indications for CPB/VA-ECMO included left ventricular or aortic annular rupture, rapid hemodynamic deterioration, aortic regurgitation, cardiac arrest, and left main coronary artery obstruction. The use of CPB/VA-ECMO was predominantly an emergent strategy and was used for durations of 1 to 2 hours. Short-term mortality (in-hospital and 30-day) was 29.8%, and 1-year mortality was 52.4%. Major complications such as bleeding, vascular injury, tamponade, stroke, and renal failure were noted in 10% to 50% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

CPB/VA-ECMO was used in 4% in the early experience of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement, most commonly for periprocedural complications. There are limited data on preprocedural planned use of VA-ECMO, and the characteristics of this population remain poorly defined.

Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in complicated transcatheter aortic valve replacement

OBJECTIVES

Although transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an excellent alternative procedure for high-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, it is often associated with life-threatening complications. We report on the emergency or elective use of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to manage these complications.

METHODS

Between December 2013 and February 2016, 46 patients underwent TAVR at our institution. Of these, 4 patients required emergency ECMO support and another 3 patients were electively placed on ECMO support at the start of the procedure. The mean age of the ECMO patients was 87.3 ± 3.6 years and all were female. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons-predicted risk of mortality score in these patients was 12.2 ± 6.2%.

RESULTS

TAVR with ECMO was completed through the transapical approach in 6 patients, and the transfemoral approach in 1 patient. The arterial access route for ECMO was the femoral artery in 5, the external iliac artery in 1, and the subclavian artery in 1. Indications for the use of emergency ECMO were hemodynamic instability in 2, cardiogenic shock in 2, while indications for elective ECMO were severe pulmonary hypertension, impaired left ventricular function and a combination of these. There was no 30-day mortality, and the 1-year survival rate was 83.3% with no significant difference compared to patients without ECMO support.

CONCLUSION

The use of ECMO in very high-risk patients undergoing TAVR may increase safety and contribute to excellent outcomes. Although ECMO support is rarely needed in TAVR, a well-prepared treatment strategy by the heart team is mandatory.

Use of extracorporeal membranous oxygenator in transcatheter aortic valve replacement

The superiority of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) compared with medical therapy for patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who are not suitable candidates for surgery had been proven. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is rarely used in TAVR. Reports of early use of extracorporeal membranous oxygenator (ECMO) have promising outcomes. ECMO offers the option of cardiac support rescue in case of intraoperative hemodynamic instability and can be instituted in advance when hemodynamic instability is expected. Here we review the English literature about the use of ECMO in TAVR procedures, and discuss the indications and rationale for its use as well as its advantages.

Salvage Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Prior to "Bridge" Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

We describe a patient who presented in profound cardiogenic shock due to bioprosthetic aortic valve stenosis requiring salvage Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation followed by a "bridge" valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12750 (J Card Surg 2016;31:403-405).

New horizons of non-emergent use of extracorporeal membranous oxygenator support

The expansion of the extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use and its indication is strikingly increased in the past few years. ECMO use expanded to lung transplantation, difficult general thoracic resections, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and LVAD implantation. Here we will discuss the indications and the outcomes of non-emergent use of ECMO.