Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Lung Transplantation: Analysis of Techniques and Outcomes

The Year in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia: Selected Highlights From 2023

This special article is the 16th in an annual series for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. The authors thank the editor-in-chief, Dr. Kaplan, and the editorial board for the opportunity to continue this series, namely the research highlights of the past year in the specialty of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesiology. The major themes selected for 2023 are outlined in this introduction, and each highlight is reviewed in detail in the main article. The literature highlights in the specialty for 2023 begin with an update on perioperative rehabilitation in cardiothoracic surgery, with a focus on novel methods to best assess patients in the preoperative and postoperative periods, and the impact of rehabilitation on outcomes. The second major theme is focused on cardiac surgery, with the authors discussing new insights into inhaled pulmonary vasodilators, coronary revascularization surgery, and discussion of causes of coronary graft failure after surgery. The third theme is focused on cardiothoracic transplantation, with discussions focusing on bridge-to-transplantation strategies. The fourth theme is focused on mechanical circulatory support, with discussions focusing on both temporary and durable support. The fifth and final theme is an update on medical cardiology, with a focus on outcomes of invasive approaches to heart disease. The themes selected for this article are only a few of the diverse advances in the specialty during 2023. These highlights will inform the reader of key updates on various topics, leading to improved perioperative outcomes for patients with cardiothoracic and vascular disease.

Initial experience and outcomes with a hybrid extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for lung transplantation

Background

The utilization of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for intraoperative support during lung transplantation has increased over the past decade. Although veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has recently emerged as the preferred modality over cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), many centers continue to use both forms of ECLS during lung transplantation. Our novel hybrid VA-ECMO/CPB circuit allows for seamless transition from VA-ECMO to CPB at a significant cost savings compared to a standalone VA-ECMO circuit. This study describes our initial experience and outcomes in the first 100 bilateral lung transplantations using this novel hybrid VA-ECMO/CPB circuit.

Methods

Medical records from September 2017 to May 2021 of the first 100 consecutive patients undergoing bilateral lung transplantation with intraoperative hybrid VA-ECMO support were examined retrospectively. We excluded patients with single lung transplants, retransplantations, preoperative ECLS bridging, and veno-venous (VV) ECMO and those supported with CPB only. Perioperative recipient, anesthetic, perfusion variables, and outcomes were assessed.

Results

Of the 100 patients supported with VA-ECMO, 19 were converted intraoperatively to CPB. Right ventricular dysfunction was seen in 37% of patients, and the median mean pulmonary artery pressure was 28 mm Hg. No oxygenator clotting was observed with a median heparin dose of 13,000 units in the VA-ECMO group. Primary graft dysfunction grade 3 at 72 hours was observed in 10.1% of all patients and observed 1-year mortality was 4%.

Conclusions

The use of a hybrid VA-ECMO/CPB circuit in our institution allows for rapid conversion to CPB with acceptable outcomes across a diverse recipient group at a significantly reduced cost compared to standalone VA-ECMO circuits.

Perioperative Circulatory Support and Management for Lung Transplantation: A Case-Based Review

Lung transplantation (LTx) historically was performed with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or Off-pump. Recent data suggest an increased interest in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as perioperative circulatory support by many lung transplantation centers worldwide. However, there are no established guidelines for anesthetic management for LTx. We present a patient with a history of systemic sclerosis and interstitial lung disease complicated by acute onset of systemic pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure undergoing LTx. We aim to discuss perioperative circulatory support, including ECMO bridge to LTx, and how best to consider the varied intraoperative strategies of CPB vs ECMO vs off-pump during LTx, intraoperative maintenance, and coagulation management.

The Year in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia: Selected Highlights from 2022

This special article is the 15th in an annual series for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. The authors thank the editor-in-chief Dr. Kaplan and the editorial board for the opportunity to continue this series, namely the research highlights of the past year in the specialties of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesiology. The major themes selected for 2022 are outlined in this introduction, and each highlight is reviewed in detail in the main body of the article. The literature highlights, in the specialties for 2022, begin with an update on COVID-19 therapies, with a focus on the temporal updates in a wide range of therapies, progressing from medical to the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and, ultimately, with lung transplantation in this high-risk group. The second major theme is focused on medical cardiology, with the authors discussing new insights into the life cycle of coronary disease, heart failure treatments, and outcomes related to novel statin therapy. The third theme is focused on mechanical circulatory support, with discussions focusing on both right-sided and left-sided temporary support outcomes and the optimal timing of deployment. The fourth and final theme is an update on cardiac surgery, with a discussion of the diverse aspects of concomitant valvular surgery and the optimal approach to procedural treatment for coronary artery disease. The themes selected for this 15th special article are only a few of the diverse advances in the specialties during 2022. These highlights will inform the reader of key updates on a variety of topics, leading to the improvement of perioperative outcomes for patients with cardiothoracic and vascular disease.

Bilateral Lung Transplantation for Congenital Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistula with Intraoperative Venovenous ECMO Support: The First Case Report in China

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (PAVF) is a rare pulmonary vascular lesion, more than 80% of which is caused by congenital abnormal development of pulmonary capillaries. The incidence of PAVF ranges from 2/100,000 to 3/100,000, with no difference in the male and female ratio. Congenital PAVF is often associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). In this article, we report a patient with only congenital PAVF that was successfully treated by bilateral lung transplantation (BLT) with intraoperative venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support because both lungs have been affected by PAVF and secondary pulmonary hypertension. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of BLT for PAVF in China and the second report that explains the clinical course of a patient to receive BLT for congenital PAVF without HHT. Some investigators have proposed lung transplantation as a definitive treatment, but the results are controversial. On the basis of the current condition of this patient, we believe lung transplantation is a viable option for certain patients, but the long-term effect remains to be studied.

Anesthetic Management During Lung Transplantation - What's New in 2021?

As outcomes of lung transplantation (LTx) are improving transplant centers are pushing boundaries. There has been a steady increase in the medical complexity of lung transplant candidates. Many transplant centers are listing older patients with comorbidities, and there has been a steady rise in the number of candidates supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to transplantation. There has been a growing appreciation of the importance intraoperative management of potentially modifiable risk factors has on postoperative outcomes. Evidence suggests that LTx even in high-risk patients requiring perioperative ECMO can offer excellent results. This article outlines the current state-of-the-art intraoperative management of LTx.

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.

Anesthetic considerations in lung transplantation: past, present and future

Lung transplantation is a very complex surgical procedure with many implications for the anesthetic care of these patients. Comprehensive preoperative evaluation is an important component of the transplant evaluation as it informs many of the decisions made perioperatively to manage these complex patients effectively and appropriately. These decisions may involve pre-emptive actions like pre-habilitation and nutrition optimization of these patients before they arrive for their transplant procedure. Appropriate airway and ventilation management of these patients needs to be performed in a manner that provides an optimal operating conditions and protection from ventilatory injury of these fragile post-transplant lungs. Pain management can be challenging and should be managed in a multi-modal fashion with or without the use of an epidural catheter while recognizing the risk of neuraxial technique in patients who will possibly be systemically anticoagulated. Complex monitoring is required for these patients involving both invasive and non-invasive including the use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and continuous cardiac output monitoring. Management of the patient's hemodynamics can be challenging and involves managing the systemic and pulmonary vascular systems. Some patients may require extra-corporeal lung support as a planned part of the procedure or as a rescue technique and centers need to be proficient in instituting and managing this sophisticated method of hemodynamic support.

Practical considerations for developing a lung transplantation anesthesiology program

The advancement in lung transplantation outcomes has been secondary to ongoing improvements within multiple medical specialties. The recent emergence of literature describing the impact of anesthetic management on perioperative outcomes has led to the beginnings of formalized training fellowships within lung transplantation anesthesiology. Practical considerations for the development of a lung transplantation anesthesiology program, both clinical and educational, are herein described.