Pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): a guide for radiologists

Concurrent use of continuous kidney replacement therapy during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: what pediatric nephrologists need to know-PCRRT-ICONIC practice points

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides temporary cardiorespiratory support for neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients when traditional management has failed. This lifesaving therapy has intrinsic risks, including the development of a robust inflammatory response, acute kidney injury (AKI), fluid overload (FO), and blood loss via consumption and coagulopathy. Continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) has been proposed to reduce these side effects by mitigating the host inflammatory response and controlling FO, improving outcomes in patients requiring ECMO. The Pediatric Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (PCRRT) Workgroup and the International Collaboration of Nephrologists and Intensivists for Critical Care Children (ICONIC) met to highlight current practice standards for ECMO use within the pediatric population. This review discusses ECMO modalities, the pathophysiology of inflammation during an ECMO run, its adverse effects, various anticoagulation strategies, and the technical aspects and outcomes of implementing CKRT during ECMO in neonatal and pediatric populations. Consensus practice points and guidelines are summarized. ECMO should be utilized in patients with severe acute respiratory failure despite the use of conventional treatment modalities. The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) offers guidelines for ECMO initiation and management while maintaining a clinical registry of over 195,000 patients to assess outcomes and complications. Monitoring and preventing fluid overload during ECMO and CKRT are imperative to reduce mortality risk. Clinical evidence, resources, and experience of the nephrologist and healthcare team should guide the selection of ECMO circuit.

Best Practices for Vessel Management in Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Cannulation, Decannulation, and Follow-up: A Narrative Review

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to support neonates and children with cardiopulmonary failure was first described in the 1970s, since which time its use has expanded to an increasingly complex and heterogenous pediatric population. Despite preserved survival outcomes, complications of ECMO use, including iatrogenic vascular injury, are common. Here, we provide a brief overview of the epidemiology of pediatric ECMO and associated vascular complications; describe common peripheral cannulation equipment and techniques, trends in cannulation and decannulation strategies, and respective incidence of vascular complications; and review existing evidence for best practices in cannula site selection, cannulation technique, decannulation strategies, and management of vascular complications, with the goal of providing a comprehensive review for interventionalists involved in the care of pediatric ECMO patients. Areas of wide practice variation in vessel management-application of vessel-sparing cervical venoarterial cannulation, the use of distal perfusion catheters in femoral arterial cannulation, and best practices for percutaneous single-lumen venovenous cannulation, as examples-areas of focus for future research, and the potential role of vascular surgeons and other subspecialty proceduralists in the care of pediatric ECMO patients are highlighted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V.

Use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to monitor neonatal and pediatric extracorporeal life support

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an invasive life support technique that requires a blood pump, an artificial membrane lung, and vascular cannulae to drain de-oxygenated blood, remove carbon dioxide, oxygenate, and return it to the patient. ECMO is generally used to provide advanced and prolonged cardiopulmonary support in patients with refractory acute cardiac and/or respiratory failure. After its first use in 1975 to manage a severe form of meconium aspiration syndrome with resultant pulmonary hypertension, the following years were dominated by the use of ECMO to manage neonatal respiratory failure and limited to a few centers across the world. In the 1990s, evidence for neonatal respiratory ECMO support increased; however, the number of cases began to decline with the use of newer pharmacologic therapies (e.g., inhaled nitric oxide, exogenous surfactant, and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation). On the contrary, pediatric ECMO sustained steady growth. Combined advances in ECMO technology and bedside medical management have improved general outcomes, although ECMO-related complications remain challenging. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is an essential tool to monitor all phases of neonatal and pediatric ECMO: evaluation of ECMO candidacy, ultrasound-guided ECMO cannulation, daily evaluation of heart and lung function and brain perfusion, detection and management of major complications, and weaning from ECMO support.  Conclusion: Based on these considerations and on the lack of specific guidelines for the use of POCUS in the neonatal and pediatric ECMO setting, the aim of this paper is to provide a systematic overview for the application of POCUS during ECMO support in these populations. What is Known: • Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides advanced cardiopulmonary support for patients with refractory acute cardiac and/or respiratory failure and requires appropriate monitoring. • Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is an accessible and adaptable tool to assess neonatal and pediatric cardiac and/or respiratory failure at bedside. What is New: • In this review, we discussed the use of POCUS to monitor and manage at bedside neonatal and pediatric patients supported with ECMO. • We explored the potential use of POCUS during all phases of ECMO support: pre-ECMO assessment, ECMO candidacy evaluation, daily evaluation of heart, lung and brain function, detection and troubleshooting of major complications, and weaning from ECMO support.

Pediatric venoarterial and venovenous ECMO

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an invaluable resource in the treatment of critically ill children with cardiopulmonary failure.  To date, over 36,000 children have been placed on ECMO and the utilization of this life saving treatment continues to expand with advances in ECMO technology.  This article offers a review of pediatric ECMO including modes and sites of ECMO cannulation, indications and contraindications, and cannulation techniques.  Furthermore, it summarizes the basic principles of pediatric ECMO including circuit maintenance, nutritional support, and clinical decision making regarding weaning pediatric ECMO and decannulation.  Finally, it gives an overview of common pediatric ECMO complications including overall mortality and long-term outcomes of ECMO survivors. The goal of this article is to provide a comprehensive review for healthcare professionals providing care for pediatric ECMO patients.

Performing chest computed tomography on pediatric patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): a stepwise approach

Chest CT in pediatric patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be done safely and provide valuable high-quality diagnostic images to help guide patient management. An understanding of the basics of the ECMO circuit, cannula locations, where and how to inject contrast media, and how to time image acquisition is vital for the radiologist. Additionally, understanding the precautions associated with performing these exams is essential to ensure the safety of the child. This article provides a brief review of pediatric ECMO and its challenges and considerations, as well as a stepwise approach to perform and optimize these exams safely.

Case Report: Two Cases of Watershed Phenomenon in Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices: Computed Tomography Angiography Imaging and Literature Review

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) has become a processing technique used in end-stage heart failure (ESHF) because it can significantly improve survival and quality of life in patients with ESHF as either a transitional support therapy or a permanent replacement therapy before heart transplant. However, various potential complications associated with MCS need to be considered, especially aortic root thrombus formation. It’s critical to have an appropriate diagnosis of aortic root thrombus and “watershed” because the prognosis and treatment are different. Both “watershed” and aortic root thrombus formation can be characterized by computed tomography angiography. The CT manifestations of two patients who had MCS device implantation in our hospital (one with intra-aortic balloon pumps + extracorporeal membrane oxygenators, the other with left ventricular assist devices) were reported, and a literature review that recognized of “watershed” phenomenon in the aortic root was conducted.

Basics of extra corporeal membrane oxygenation: a pediatric intensivist's perspective

Extra Corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is one of the most advanced forms of life support therapy in the Intensive Care Unit. It relies on the principle where an external artificial circuit carries venous blood from the patient to a gas exchange device (oxygenator) within which blood becomes enriched with oxygen and has carbon dioxide removed. The blood is then returned to the patient via a central vein or an artery. The goal of ECMO is to provide a physiologic milieu for recovery in refractory cardiac/respiratory failure. The technology is not a definitive treatment for a disease, but provides valuable time for the body to recover. In that way it can be compared to a bridge, where patients are initiated on ECMO as a bridge to recovery, bridge to decision making, bridge to transplant or bridge to diagnosis. The use of this modality in children is not backed by a lot of randomized controlled trials, but the use has increased dramatically in our country in last 10 years. This article is not intended to provide an in-depth overview of ECMO, but outlines the basic principles that a pediatric intensive care physician should know in order to manage a kid on ECMO support.

Imaging Adult ECMO

Adult extracorporal membrane oxygenation utilization in the ICU has rapidly increased. Newer technology and cannulation strategies and the complex hemodynamics make imaging interpretation challenging. There is also a high rate of complications. This review details the common indications, cannulation strategies, relevant hemodynamics and complications which impact imaging interpretation. Recommendations for modifying computed tomography protocols and techniques to obtain diagnostic images and some of the imaging pitfalls are also discussed.

Extracardiac Complications in Intensive Care Units after Surgical Repair for Congenital Heart Disease: Imaging Review with a Focus on Ultrasound and Radiography

Pediatric patients show various extracardiac complications after cardiovascular surgery, and radiography and ultrasound are routinely performed in the intensive care unit to detect and evaluate these complications. This review presents images of these complications, sonographic approach, and timing of occurrence that are categorized based on their extracardiac locations and include complications pertaining to the central nervous system, mediastinum, thorax and lung parenchyma, diaphragm, liver and biliary system, and kidney along with pleural effusion and iatrogenic complications. This pictorial review will make it easier for medical doctors in intensive care units to identify and manage various extracardiac complications in pediatric patients after cardiovascular surgery.

Back to Fundamentals: Radiographic Evaluation of Thoracic Lines and Tubes in Children

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to provide an up-to-date review of the radiographic appearance of the most commonly used thoracic lines and tubes in pediatric patients in daily clinical practice. CONCLUSION. Thoracic support lines and tubes are frequently used in children receiving hospital care. Evaluation of these devices is a fundamental skill in radiology. Many different devices are currently used, and new devices are regularly introduced. It is essential for radiologists to maintain a clear understanding of all devices currently in use.