Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with multiple-organ failure: Can molecular adsorbent recirculating system therapy improve survival?

Use of hepatic support with MARS in a patient with SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia, in treatment with ECMO and CRRT therapies: Case Report

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy had an important role in the treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia, where invasive mechanical ventilation was not enough to provide correct oxygenation to various organ systems. However, there are other extracorporeal technologies, such as the Molecular Absorbent Recirculation System (MARS) and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), that provide temporal support for any critical patient. The following case describes a 60-year-old man with severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), who needed ECMO therapy. During the critical days of hospitalization, CRRT was used, but a sudden hyperbilirubinemia ensued. Consequently, MARS therapy was initiated; followed by an improvement of bilirubin levels. Additional studies are needed to establish the possible benefits of the combination of MARS therapy and ECMO; however, we detected that concomitantly, there was a decrease in other laboratory parameters such as acute phase reactants. Even though, no change in clinical course was observed, as shown in some studies.

A descriptive evaluation of causes of death in venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) has become an important support modality for patients with acute respiratory failure refractory to optimal medical therapy, such as low tidal volume mechanical ventilator support, early paralytic infusion, and early prone positioning. The objective of this cohort study was to investigate the causes and timing of in-hospital mortality in patients on VV ECMO. All patients, excluding trauma and bridge to lung transplant, admitted 8/2014-6/2019 to a specialty ICU for VV ECMO were reviewed. Two hundred twenty-five patients were included. In-hospital mortality was 24.4% (n = 55). Most non-survivors (46/55, 84%) died prior to lung recovery and decannulation from VV ECMO. Most common cause of death (COD) for patients who died on VV ECMO was removal of life sustaining therapy (LST) in setting of multisystem organ failure (MSOF) (n = 24). Nine patients died a median of 9 days [6, 11] after decannulation. Most common COD in these patients was palliative withdrawal of LST due to poor prognosis (n = 3). Non-survivors were older and had worse predictive mortality scores than survivors. We found that death in patients supported with VV ECMO in our study most often occurs prior to decannulation and lung recovery. This study demonstrated that the most common cause of death in patients supported with VV ECMO was removal of LST due MSOF. Acute hemorrhage (systemic or intracranial) was not found to be a common cause of death in our patient population.

A One-pot-synthesized Double-layered Anticoagulant Hydrogel Tube

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) has emerged as a viable treatment in severe cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute respiratory failure, and adult respiratory distress syndrome. However, thromboembolic events stemming from the use of ECMO devices results in significant morbidity and mortality rates; the inner surface of the ECMO tubing comes into contact with the blood and can readily initiate coagulation. In addition, the tubing needs to be continually replaced due to thromboses on the inner tube wall, which not only increases the risk of infection but also the economic burden. Despite considerable effort, a surface modification strategy that effectively addresses these challenges has not yet been realized. In this study, we developed an integrated hollow core-shell-shell hydrogel tube of gelatin/alginate/acrylamide-bacterial nanocellulose(GAA) that meets the anticoagulant requirements for the inner tubing layer as well as the highly elastic soft material needed for the outer layer. Using static blood from healthy volunteers, we confirmed that the platelets or coagulation is not stimulated by the GAA tubing. Importantly, experiments with dynamic blood also demonstrated that the inner layer of the tubing does not elicit blood clotting. The one-pot-synthesized process may provide guidance for the design of anticoagulation tubes used clinically.

ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at 10.1007/s40242-021-1267-3.

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: Special reference for use in 'post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock' - A review with an Indian perspective

The ultimate goals of cardiovascular physiology are to ensure adequate end-organ perfusion to satisfy the local metabolic demand, to maintain homeostasis and achieve 'milieu intérieur'. Cardiogenic shock is a state of pump failure which results in tissue hypoperfusion and its associated complications. There are a wide variety of causes which lead to this deranged physiology, and one such important and common scenario is the post-cardiotomy state which is encountered in cardiac surgical units. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is an important modality of managing post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock with variable outcomes which would otherwise be universally fatal. VA-ECMO is considered as a double-edged sword with the advantages of luxurious perfusion while providing an avenue for the failing heart to recover, but with the problems of anticoagulation, inflammatory and adverse systemic effects. Optimal outcomes after VA-ECMO are heavily reliant on a multitude of factors and require a multi-disciplinary team to handle them. This article aims to provide an insight into the pathophysiology of VA-ECMO, cannulation techniques, commonly encountered problems, monitoring, weaning strategies and ethical considerations along with a literature review of current evidence-based practices.

Extracorporeal liver support: trending epidemiology and mortality - a nationwide database analysis 2007-2015

Background

Extracorporeal liver support therapies (ELS) are technical options (for bridge-to-recovery as well as bridge-to-transplant) in patients with acute liver dysfunction (e.g. acute liver failure (ALF), acute-on chronic liver failure (AoCLF) or decompensated chronic liver disease (decomp. CLD)) to reduce effects of failing hepatic detoxification functions. The present study investigates the real-life utilization of ELS (annual incidences), mortality rates as well as data regarding specific populations of liver transplantation in Germany.

Methods

Data on patient cases receiving extracorporeal liver support therapy were identified in a nationwide data set from the Federal statistical Office of Germany from 1 January 2007 through 31 December 2015 and analyzed regarding in-hospital mortality, age- and sex-specific distribution and use of ELS in the context of liver transplantation. Mortality rates in patients with primary acute liver dysfunction and secondary acute liver dysfunction (in the context of cardiothoracic surgery) were evaluated.

Results

Annual incidences of ELS use remained stable between 0.39/100.000 in 2007 and 0.47/100.000 ELS in 2015. In-hospital mortality rate was 51.49% in the 2886 evaluated patient cases. Mortality was higher in men (56.04%) than in women (43.70) in the observed time period between 2007 and 2015. ELS utilization and case-related liver transplantation rates were low (12.47%). Since 2012, the annual numbers for ELS therapy in cardiosurgical patients exceeded the frequency of ELS utilization in cases of primary liver dysfunction (mortality rates: 68.39% versus 40.63%).

Conclusions

ELS utilization remained stable between 2007 and 2015. Mortality rates are high in this patient population of acute liver dysfunction, especially in combination with case-related cardiothoracic surgery. ELS is rarely used in the setting of liver transplantation. In 2015, more than 50% of all ELS cases in Germany were performed in the context of cardiothoracic surgery.

The efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in liver transplantation from non-heart-beating donors: A systemic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

A systematic review and meta-analysis was made to see whether extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in liver transplantation could improve non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) recipients' outcomes compared with donors after brain death (DBDs) recipients.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for eligible studies. The study eligible criteria are cohort or case-control studies using ECMO in all NHBDs; studies involved a comparison group of DBDs; and studies evaluated 1-year graft and patient survival rate in NHBDs and DBDs groups.

RESULTS

Four studies with 704 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The pooled odds ratio (OR) of 1-year patient survival rate in NHBDs recipients compared with DBDs recipients was 0.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-1.55). The pooled OR of 1-year graft survival rate in NHBDs recipients compared with DBDs recipients was 0.46 (95% CI, 0.26-0.81). NHBDs recipients were at greater risks to the occurrence of primary nonfunction (PNF) (OR = 7.12, 95% CI, 1.84-27.52) and ischemic cholangiopathy (IC) (OR = 9.46, 95% CI, 2.76-32.4) than DBDs recipients.

CONCLUSIONS

ECMO makes 1-year patient survival acceptable in NHBDs recipients. One-year graft survival rate was lower in NHBDs recipients than in DBDs recipients. Compared with DBDs recipients, the risks to develop PNF and IC were increased among NHBDs recipients.

Blood Purification With CytoSorb in Critically Ill Patients: Single-Center Preliminary Experience

The CytoSorb adsorber, a blood purification therapy, is able to remove molecules in the 5-60 kDa range which comprises the majority of inflammatory mediators and some endogenous molecules. We aimed to evaluate CytoSorb therapy on clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. A retrospective case series study, from February 2016 to May 2017, was performed in 40 patients with multiple organ failure who received CytoSorb treatment. There were 28 patients with cardiogenic shock, 2 with septic shock, 9 with acute respiratory distress syndrome, and 1 with liver failure. Nineteen patients (47%) underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, 11 (27%) had an intra-aortic balloon pump, 9 (22%) were implanted with Impella, 6 (15%) had a ventricular assist device, and 18 (45%) were treated with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration. After CytoSorb treatment, total bilirubin decreased from 11.6 ± 9.2 to 6.8 ± 5.1 mg/dL (P = 0.005), lactate from 12.1 ± 8.7 to 2.9 ± 2.5 mmol/L (P < 0.001), CPK from 2416 (670-8615) to 281 (44-2769) U/L (P < 0.001) and LDH from 1230 (860-3157) to 787 (536-1148) U/L (P < 0.001). The vasoactive-inotropic score after 48 h of treatment was reduced to 10 points, P = 0.009. Thirty-day mortality was 55% and ICU mortality was 52.5% at expected ICU mortality of 80%. Our study shows that CytoSorb^TM treatment is effective in reducing bilirubin, lactate, CPK and LDH, in critically ill patients mainly due to cardiogenic shock. There is a need for randomized controlled trials to conclude on the potential benefits blood purification with CytoSorb in critically ill patients.

Does acute kidney injury affect survival in adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation?

INTRODUCTION

Patients who develop severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) despite full medical management may require veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) to support respiratory function. Survival outcomes remain unclear in those who develop acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) during VV ECMO for isolated severe respiratory failure in adult populations.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review (2010-2016) of patients who underwent VV ECMO for ARDS was conducted with university institutional review board (IRB) approval. Patients supported by veno-arterial ECMO were excluded. AKI was defined by acute renal failure receiving CRRT and the outcomes of patients on VV ECMO were compared between the AKI and non-AKI groups.

RESULTS

We identified 54 ARDS patients supported by VV ECMO (mean ECMO days 12 ± 6.7) with 16 (30%) in the AKI group and 38 (70%) in the non-AKI group. No patient had previous renal failure and the serum creatinine was not significantly different between the two groups at the time of ECMO initiation. The AKI group showed a greater incidence of complications during ECMO, including liver failure (38% vs. 5%, p=0.002) and hemorrhage (94% vs. 45%, p=0.0008). ECMO survival of the AKI group (56% [9/16]) was inferior to the non-AKI group (87% [33/38], p=0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that VV ECMO successfully manages patients with severe isolated lung injury. However, once patients develop AKI during VV ECMO, they are likely to further develop multi-organ dysfunction, including hepatic and hematological complications, leading to inferior survival.

Adjunctive Therapies During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation to Enhance Multiple Organ Support in Critically Ill Children

Since the advent of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) over 40 years ago, there has been increasing interest in the use of the extracorporeal circuit as a platform for providing multiple organ support. In this review, we will examine the evidence for the use of continuous renal replacement therapy, therapeutic plasma exchange, leukopheresis, adsorptive therapies, and extracorporeal liver support in conjunction with ECMO.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Hyperbilirubinemia in Adult Cardiac Patients Supported by Veno-Arterial ECMO

The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of hyperbilirubinemia in cardiac patients with veno-arterial (VA) ECMO. Data on 89 adult patients with cardiac diseases who received VA ECMO implantation in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were divided into the following three groups: 24 in normal group (N, total bilirubin [TBIL] ≤3 mg/dL), 30 in high bilirubin group (HB, 6 mg/dL ≥ TBIL > 3 mg/dL), and 35 in severe high bilirubin group (SHB, TBIL > 6 mg/dL). lg(variables + 1) was performed for nonnormally distributed variables. The incidence of hyperbilirubinemia (>3 mg/dL) was 73%. In a multiple linear regression analysis, lg(peak TBIL + 1) was significantly associated with lg(peak AST + 1) (b-coefficient 0.188, P = 0.001), lg(peak pFHb + 1) (b-coefficient 0.201, P = 0.003), and basic TBIL (b-coefficient 0.006, P = 0.009). Repeated measurement analysis of variance revealed that the main effect for three groups in pFHb and lg(AST + 1) was significant at first 3 days during ECMO. The patients in SHB had low platelets during ECMO and low in-hospital survival rate. Hyperbilirubinemia remains common in patients with VA ECMO and is associated with low platelets and high in-hospital mortality. Hemolysis and liver dysfunction during ECMO and basic high bilirubin levels are risk factors of hyperbilirubinemia.