Predictors and Outcome of Extracorporeal Life Support After Pediatric Heart Transplantation

Use of ECMO for Cardiogenic Shock in Pediatric Population

In children with severe advanced heart failure where medical management has failed, mechanical circulatory support in the form of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) or ventricular assist device represents life-sustaining therapy. This review provides an overview of VA ECMO used for cardiovascular support including medical and surgical heart disease. Indications, contraindications, and outcomes of VA ECMO in the pediatric population are discussed.VA ECMO provides biventricular and respiratory support and can be deployed in rapid fashion to rescue patient with failing physiology. There have been advances in conduct and technologic aspects of VA ECMO, but survival outcomes have not improved. Stringent selection and optimal timing of deployment are critical to improve mortality and morbidity of the patients supported with VA ECMO.

Moderate-severe primary graft dysfunction after pediatric heart transplantation

BACKGROUND

PGD is a complication after heart transplantation (OHT) and a significant cause of mortality, particularly in infant recipients. Lack of standardized definition of PGD in the pediatric population makes the prevalence and magnitude of impact unclear.

METHODS

ISHLT PGD consensus guidelines, which include inotrope scores and need for MCS, were applied retrospectively to 208 pediatric OHT recipients from a single institution from 1/2005-5/2016. PGD was defined as: moderate PGD-inotrope score >10 on postoperative day 1 (24-48 hours), and severe PGD-MCS within 24 hours (in the absence of detectable rejection).

RESULTS

PGD occurred in 34 patients (16.3%); 14 of which had severe PGD (6.7%). Multivariate risk factors for PGD included CPB time (OR 10.3/10 min, 95% 10.05, 10.2, P = 0.03), Fontan palliation (OR 1.9, 95% 1.2, 3.97), and PCM (OR 5.65, 95% 1.52, 22.4); but not age, weight, ischemic time, or donor characteristics. Upon sub-analysis excluding patients with PCM, increased CPB was a significant multivariate risk factor (OR 10.09, 95% 9.89, 10.12, P = 0.003). Patients with PGD had decreased discharge survival compared to those without PGD (85% vs 96%, P < 0.01). Severe PGD was associated with the poorest 1-year survival (57% vs 91% without PGD, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Patients with prolonged CPB are potentially at risk for developing PGD. Neither infant recipients nor donor characteristics were associated with an increased risk of PGD in the current era.

Concepts from paediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for adult intensivists

Over the last 5 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in adult patients with severe respiratory or cardiac failure. This contrasts to the use of the technology in neonatal and paediatric intensive care units, where it has been regarded as a standard of care for a number of conditions for over 25 years. Many innovations in ECMO circuitry or clinical management evolve first in one particular discipline and it may be helpful for individual clinicians to keep abreast of developments in ECMO across the entire age range, from neonatology to older adults. This review addresses nine concepts in ECMO that are better studied or established in paediatric medicine and considers their application in adult patients.