Emergency veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO)-supported percutaneous interventions in refractory cardiac arrest and profound cardiogenic shock

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for post-infarction ventricular septal defect in a low-volume center

Managing patients with post-ischaemic ventricular septal defects (VSD) and postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock can be extremely challenging in a low-volume cardiac surgery unit. We present a case of a 68-year-old patient who received veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support due to cardiogenic shock after VSD repair. The patient was successfully weaned off support after 86 h. In the postoperative period, mediastinitis occurred, and negative pressure wound therapy was instituted.

Influence of Culprit Lesion Intervention on Outcomes in Infarct-Related Cardiogenic Shock With Cardiac Arrest

BACKGROUND

Cardiac arrest (CA) is common in patients with infarct-related cardiogenic shock (CS).

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to identify the characteristics and outcomes of culprit lesion percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of patients with infarct-related CS stratified according to CA in the CULPRIT-SHOCK (Culprit Lesion Only PCI Versus Multivessel PCI in Cardiogenic Shock) randomized trial and registry.

METHODS

Patients with CS with and without CA from the CULPRIT-SHOCK study were analyzed. All-cause death or severe renal failure leading to renal replacement therapy within 30 days and 1-year death were assessed.

RESULTS

Among 1,015 patients, 550 (54.2%) had CA. Patients with CA were younger, more frequently male, had lower rates of peripheral artery disease, a glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min, and left main disease, and they presented more often with clinical signs of impaired organ perfusion. The composite of all-cause death or severe renal failure within 30 days occurred in 51.2% of patients with CA vs 48.5% in non-CA patients (P = 0.39) and 1-year death in 53.8% vs 50.4% (P = 0.29), respectively. In a multivariate analysis, CA was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality (HR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.01-1.59). In the randomized trial, culprit lesion-only PCI was superior to immediate multivessel PCI in patients both with and without CA (P for interaction = 0.6).

CONCLUSIONS

More than 50% of patients with infarct-related CS had CA. These patients with CA were younger and had fewer comorbidities, but CA was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality. Culprit lesion-only PCI is the preferred strategy, both in patients with and without CA. (Culprit Lesion Only PCI Versus Multivessel PCI in Cardiogenic Shock [CULPRIT-SHOCK]; NCT01927549).

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation improves survival in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been widely used in high-risk acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with promising outcomes. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown and a VA-ECMO animal model has not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to establish a VA-ECMO model in AMI rats and evaluate long-term cardiac function.

METHODS

We first established AMI in 20 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery, while five rats underwent a thoracotomy to form the sham group. VA-ECMO was established after 30mins of AMI in 10 rats through the right jugular vein for venous drainage and right femoral artery for arterial infusion. Arterial blood pressure was monitored using a catheter in the left femoral artery, blood gas parameters were measured using a blood gas analyzer, while myocardial enzymes were detected using an ELISA Kit. Cardiac function was assessed through echocardiography on day 15. Masson staining and Western Blot were used for evaluating myocardial fibrosis, while histological injury was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining.

RESULTS

VA-ECMO support stabilized blood pressure, decreased the levels of myocardial enzymes including cTnI, cTnT, CK-MB, and was associated with a higher survival rate. In the long term, the VA-ECMO group showed improved cardiac function, significantly increased EF and FS but significantly decreased EDV and ESV compared to the AMI group. Furthermore, VA-ECMO significantly alleviated pathological damage and myocardial fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

We established an economical, reliable, and reproducible VA-ECMO animal model in AMI rats, and demonstrated that VA-ECMO support prevents deteriorated cardiac function.

A novel strategy sequentially linking mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation optimizes prognosis of refractory cardiac arrest: an illustrative case series

Background

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to support cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), also known as extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), has shown encouraging results in refractory cardiac arrest (RCA) resuscitation. However, its therapeutic benefits are linked to instant and uninterrupted chest compression (CC), besides early implementation. Mechanical CC can overcome the shortcomings of conventional manual CC, including fatigue and labor consumption, and ensure adequate blood perfusion. A strategy sequentially linking mechanical CPR with ECPR may earn extra favorable outcomes.

Case series

We present a four-case series with ages ranging from 8 to 94 years who presented with prolonged absences of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after CA associated with acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) and myocardial infarction (MI). All the cases received VA-ECMO (ROTAFLOW, Maquet) assisted ECPR, with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) or continuous renal replacement treatment (CRRT) appended if persistently low mean blood pressure (MAP) or ischemic kidney injury occurred. All patients have successfully weaned off ECMO and the assistant life support devices with complete neurological recovery. Three patients were discharged, except the 94-year-old patient who died of irreversible sepsis 20 days after ECMO weaning-off. These encouraging results will hopefully lead to more consideration of this lifesaving therapy model that sequentially integrates mechanical CPR with ECPR to rescue RCA related to reversible cardiac causes.

Conclusions

This successful case series should lead to more consideration of an integrated lifesaving strategy sequentially linking mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation with ECPR, as an extra favorable prognosis of refractory cardiac arrest related to this approach can be achieved.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40001-022-00711-1.

Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Elective High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

Background

The safety and feasibility of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) as mechanical circulatory support in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HR-PCI) remain unclear.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with complex and high-risk coronary artery disease who underwent elective PCI with VA-ECMO support pre-operatively during March 2019–December 2020. Rates of VA-ECMO-related complications, complications during PCI, death, myocardial infarction, and stroke during hospitalisation and 1-year post-operatively were analysed.

Results

Overall, 36 patients (average age: 63.6 ± 8.9 years) underwent PCI. The average duration of VA-ECMO support was 12.5 (range, 3.0–26.3) h. Intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation was used in 44.4% of patients. The SYNTAX score was 34.6 ± 8.4 pre-operatively and 10.8 ± 8.8 post-operatively (P < 0.001). Intraoperative complications included pericardial tamponade (N = 2, 5.6%), acute left-sided heart failure (N = 1, 2.8%), malignant arrhythmia requiring electrocardioversion (N = 2, 5.6%), and no deaths. Blood haemoglobin levels before PCI and 24 h after VA-ECMO withdrawal were 145.4 ± 20.2 g/L and 105.7 ± 21.7 g/L, respectively (P < 0.001). Outcomes during hospitalisation included death (N = 1, 2.8%), stroke (N = 1, 2.8%), lower limb ischaemia (N = 2, 5.6%), lower limb deep venous thrombosis (N = 1, 2.8%), cannulation site haematoma (N = 2, 5.6%), acute renal injury (N = 2, 5.6%), bacteraemia (N = 2, 5.6%), bleeding requiring blood transfusion (N = 5, 13.9%), and no recurrent myocardial infarctions. Within 1 year post-operatively, two patients (5.6%) were hospitalised for heart failure.

Conclusions

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation mechanical circulation support during HR-PCI is a safe and feasible strategy for achieving revascularisation in complex and high-risk coronary artery lesions. VA-ECMO-related complications require special attention.

The Year in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Selected Highlights From 2021

This review summarizes the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or extracorporeal life support literature published in 2021. This Selected Highlights article is not intended to be an exhaustive review of the literature, but rather a summarizing of key themes that developed in the ECMO literature during 2021. The primary topics presented include the following: ECMO for coronavirus disease 2019, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, periprocedural cardiopulmonary support with ECMO, and anticoagulation for ECMO.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in-hospital cardiac arrest due to acute coronary syndrome

Background

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation on survival and neurological outcomes in in-hospital cardiac arrest patients.

Methods

Between January 2018 and December 2020, a total of 22 patients (17 males, 5 females; mean age: 52.8±9.0 years; range, 32 to 70 years) treated with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation using veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for in-hospital cardiac arrest after acute coronary syndrome were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups as those weaned (n=13) and non-weaned (n=9) from the veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Demographic data of the patients, heart rhythms at the beginning of conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the angiographic and interventional results, survival and neurological outcomes of the patients before and after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation were recorded.

Results

There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of comorbidity and baseline laboratory test values. The underlying rhythm was ventricular fibrillation in 92% of the patients in the weaned group and there was no cardiac rhythm in 67% of the patients in the non-weaned group (p=0.125). The recovery in the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly evident in the weaned group (36.5±12.7% vs. 21.1±7.4%, respectively; p=0.004). The overall wean rate from veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was 59.1%; however, the discharge rate from hospital of survivors without any neurological sequelae was 36.4%.

Conclusion

In-hospital cardiac arrest is a critical emergency situation requiring instantly life-saving interventions through conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If it fails, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be initiated, regardless the underlying etiology or rhythm disturbances. An effective conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation is mandatory to prevent brain and body hypoperfusion.