Prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for pediatric necrotizing pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumonia and influenza H1N1 co-infection: how long should we wait for native lung recovery?

Clinical Characteristics of Necrotizing Pneumonia Caused by Different Pathogens

Objective

To explore the clinical characteristics of necrotizing pneumonia (NP) caused by different pathogens.

Methods

A total of 282 children with NP admitted to Kunming Children's Hospital from January 2014 to November 2022 were enrolled. The clinical data of all children was collected. According to the different pathogens causing NP, the children were divided into three groups: the Mycoplasma pneumoniae necrotizing pneumonia (MPNP) group, the bacterial necrotizing pneumonia (BNP) group, and necrotizing pneumonia with no pathogen detected (NNP) group. The basic information, symptoms, signs, laboratory tests, radiological features, treatment, and prognosis of the three groups were compared.

Results

Among the 282 cases of NP, there were 62 (22.0%) cases of MPNP, 98 (34.75%) cases of BNP, and 142 (50.35%) cases of NNP. The most common bacteria causing NP were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Acinetobacter baumannii, respectively. Most clinical features of the three groups were statistically significant. The area under the concentration curve of white blood cell, C-reactive protein, albumin, neutrophil percentage, and fibrinogen in differentiating MPNP from BNP were 0.743 (0.638-0.849), 0.797 (0.711-0.883), 0.766 (0.671-0.861), 0.616 (0.509-0.724), and 0.634 (0.523-0.744), respectively. The decision curve showed that white blood cells, albumin, and C-reactive protein had good clinical application in differentiating MPNP from BNP. All patients were improved and discharged without death.

Conclusion

Bacteria are the most common cause of NP, and the most common bacteria are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus influenzae. NP with no pathogen detected accounted for a large proportion. white blood, C-reactive protein, and albumin can identify the pathogens of NP. Patients with BNP were more severe, had a longer hospital stay, and were more likely to undergo closed drainage and surgery.

Necrotizing pneumonia requiring prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: Pushing the boundaries in pediatric ECMO

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life‐saving rescue therapy used in acute respiratory failure refractory to invasive mechanical ventilation. Recent studies on positive outcomes of extended ECMO therapy are promising. We describe a case of a 2‐year 8‐month‐old female child with necrotizing pneumonia secondary to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Influenza A, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, who survived with intact neurological function and no long‐term adverse outcomes after a prolonged ECMO run of 86 days. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the longer durations of ECMO with transplant‐free survival in a pediatric patient requiring respiratory support with good recovery and a good functional outcome. Allowing time for native lung recovery is pivotal for optimal recovery, despite significant lung injury due to the underlying disease process. With evolving ECMO experience, clinicians may need to re‐consider the conventional maximum duration of ECMO in children with severe respiratory failure on a case‐by‐case basis.

Beyond Frontiers: Feasibility and Outcomes of Prolonged Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use in acute respiratory failure is increasing. We aim to compare characteristics and outcomes of patients with prolonged (≥21 days) veno-venous (VV) ECMO runs (pECMO), to patients with short (<21 days) VV ECMO runs (sECMO). The observational retrospective single-center study compared patients who received VV ECMO from January 2018 to June 2019 at Prince Mohamed Bin Abdulaziz Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Forty-three patients were supported with VV ECMO during the study period, of whom 37 are included as six patients were still receiving ECMO at time of data collection: 24 sECMO and 13 pECMO patients. Baseline characteristics and comorbidities were similar except pECMO patients were older and had a lower P/F ratio (61 [58-68] vs. 71[58-85.5], p = 0.05). Survival to hospital discharge (69% vs. 83%, p = 0.32; pECMO vs. sECMO) and 90 day survival (62% vs. 75%, p = 0.413; pECMO vs. sECMO) were similar among groups. At 1 year follow-up, all patients were still alive and independently functioning except for one patient in the pECMO group who required a walking aid related to trauma. In this single-center study, patients requiring pECMO had similar short- and long-term survival to those requiring sECMO duration.

Outcomes and associated ethical considerations of long-run pediatric ECMO at a single center institution

PURPOSE

Survival of neonatal and pediatric patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) ≥ 21 days has not been well described. We hypothesized that patients would have poor survival and increased long-term complications.

METHODS

Retrospective, single center, review and case analysis. Tertiary-care university children's hospital including neonatal, pediatric and cardiac intensive care units. After institutional review board approval, the charts of all patients < 18 years of age undergoing ECMO for ≥ 21 continuous days were performed, and they were compared to comparative patients undergoing shorter runs. Overall survival, incidence of complications, and post-discharge recovery were recorded.

RESULTS

Overall survival was 36% in patients undergoing ≥ 21 days of ECMO (N = 14). 5/8 patients with cardiopulmonary failure from acquired etiologies survived versus 0/6 patients with congenital anomalies. 1/5 survivors achieved complete recovery with no neurologic deficits. The remaining survivors suffer from multiple medical and neurodevelopmental morbidities.

CONCLUSION

ECMO support for ≥ 21 days is associated with poor survival, particularly in neonates with congenital anomalies. Long-term outcomes for survivors ought to be carefully weighed and discussed with parents given the high incidence of neurologic morbidities in this population.