[Extracorporeal life support for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (adult and paediatric). Consensus conference organized by the French Intensive Care Society]

Factors associated with bleeding complications in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 admitted to intensive care units: A multicenter retrospective cohort study

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Diabetes is a major risk factor for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity. We aimed to retrospectively investigate the rates of patients with no diabetes, untreated diabetes, treated diabetes, COVID-19-related diabetes and the factors associated with bleeding complications in a cohort of patients with severe COVID-19.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational study. Participants were COVID-19 patients enrolled in the Cross-sectional ICU Information Search System (CRISIS) from February 2020 to March 2022. Patients were classified into four groups according to diabetes status and treatment status. Hemorrhagic complications were defined as bleeding requiring transfusion of four or more red blood cell units, a drop of hemoglobin of ≥2 g in 24 h and retroperitoneal, airway or intracranial bleeding. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to examine factors associated with bleeding complications.

RESULTS

A total of 1,076 patients were included in the analysis. The rates of patients in the no diabetes, untreated diabetes, treated diabetes and COVID-19-related diabetes groups were 17.4, 23.0, 23.9 and 35.7%, respectively. Bleeding complications were observed in 7.5% of all patients. Glycated hemoglobin level and renal failure were significantly correlated with bleeding complications (odds ratio 1.16, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.33 and 2.77, 95% confidence interval 1.16-6.63, respectively). Patients with diabetes, including those with COVID-19-related diabetes, accounted for approximately 83% of all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with severe COVID-19 with high glycated hemoglobin and renal failure, we recommend additional attention to the course of COVID-19, given the risk of bleeding complications.

A 2-year multicenter, observational, prospective, cohort study on extracorporeal CO2 removal in a large metropolis area

Background

Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO₂R) is a promising technique for the management of acute respiratory failure, but with a limited level of evidence to support its use outside clinical trials and/or data collection initiatives. We report a collaborative initiative in a large metropolis.

Methods

To assess on a structural basis the rate of utilization as well as efficacy and safety parameters of 2 ECCO₂R devices in 10 intensive care units (ICU) during a 2-year period.

Results

Seventy patients were recruited in 10 voluntary and specifically trained centers. The median utilization rate was 0.19 patient/month/center (min 0.04; max 1.20). ECCO₂R was started under invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in 59 patients and non-invasive ventilation in 11 patients. The Hemolung Respiratory Assist System (Alung) was used in 53 patients and the iLA Activve iLA kit (Xenios Novalung) in 17 patients. Main indications were ultraprotective ventilation for ARDS patients (n = 24), shortening the duration of IMV in COPD patients (n = 21), preventing intubation in COPD patients (n = 9), and controlling hypercapnia and dynamic hyperinflation in mechanically ventilated patients with severe acute asthma (n = 6). A reduction in median V_T was observed in ARDS patients from 5.9 to 4.1 ml/kg (p <0.001). A reduction in PaCO₂ values was observed in AE-COPD patients from 67.5 to 51 mmHg (p< 0.001). Median duration of ECCO₂R was 5 days (IQR 3–8). Reasons for ECCO₂R discontinuation were improvement (n = 33), ECCO₂R-related complications (n = 18), limitation of life-sustaining therapies or measures decision (n = 10), and death (n = 9). Main adverse events were hemolysis (n = 21), bleeding (n = 17), and lung membrane clotting (n = 11), with different profiles between the devices. Thirty-five deaths occurred during the ICU stay, 3 of which being ECCO₂R-related.

Conclusions

Based on a registry, we report a low rate of ECCO₂R device utilization, mainly in severe COPD and ARDS patients. Physiological efficacy was confirmed in these two populations. We confirmed safety concerns such as hemolysis, bleeding, and thrombosis, with different profiles between the devices. Such results could help to design future studies aiming to enhance safety, to demonstrate a still-lacking strong clinical benefit of ECCO₂R, and to guide the choice between different devices.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: Identifier: NCT02965079 retrospectively registered https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02965079

Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist for children on veno-venous ECMO

NAVA may improve veno-venous ECMO weaning in children. This is a retrospective small series, describing for the first time proof-of-principle for the use of NAVA in children on VV ECMO. Six patients (age 1-48 months) needed veno-venous ECMO. Controlled conventional ventilation was replaced with assisted ventilation as soon as lung compliance improved, and could trigger initiation and termination of ventilation. NAVA was then initiated when diaphragmatic electrical activity (EAdi) allowed for triggering. NAVA was possible in all patients. Proportionate to EAdi (1.8-26 μV), initial peak inspiratory pressures ranged from 21 to 34 cm H2O, and the tidal volume (Vt) from 3 to 7 ml/kg. During weaning, peak pressures increased proportionally to EAdi increase (5.2-41 μV), with tidal volumes ranging from 6.6 to 8.6 ml/kg. ECMO was weaned after a median time of 1.75 days on NAVA. Following ECMO weaning, the median duration of mechanical ventilation, and intensive care unit stay were 4.5 days, and 13.5 days, respectively. Survival to hospital discharge was 100%. In conclusion, combining NAVA to ECMO in paediatric respiratory failure is safe and feasible, and may help in a smoother ECMO weaning, since NAVA allows the patient to drive the ventilator and regulate Vt according to needs.

3-month prognostic impact of severe acute renal failure under veno-venous ECMO support: Importance of time of onset

PURPOSE

Veno-venous ECMO is increasingly used for the management of refractory ARDS. In this context, acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major and frequent complication, often associated with poor outcome. We aimed to identify characteristics associated with severe renal failure (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome (KDIGO) 3) and its impact on 3-month outcome.

METHODS

Between May 2009 and April 2016, 60 adult patients requiring VV-ECMO in our University Hospital were prospectively included.

RESULTS

AKI occurrence was frequent (75%; n=45), 51% of patients (n=31) developed KDIGO 3 - predominantly prior to ECMO insertion - and renal replacement therapy was required in 43% (n=26) of cases. KDIGO 3 was associated with a lower mechanical ventilation weaning rate (24% vs 68% for patients with no AKI or other stages of AKI; p<0.001) and a higher 90-day mortality rate (72% vs 32%, p=0.002). Multivariate logistic regression suggested that KDIGO 3 occurrence prior to ECMO insertion, as well as PaCO2>57mmHg and mSOFA>12 were independent risks factors for 90-day mortality.

CONCLUSION

KDIGO 3 AKI occurrence is correlated with the severity of patients' clinical condition prior to ECMO insertion and is negatively associated with 90-day survival.