Prognostic significance of intra-aortic balloon pumping support in patients with acute myocardial infarction and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy

Different strategies in left ventricle unloading during venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A network meta-analysis

Background

Left ventricular (LV) overload is a frequent complication during VA-ECMO associated with poor outcomes. Many strategies of LV unloading have been documented but lack of evidence shows which is better. We conducted a network meta-analysis to compare different LV unloading strategies.

Methods

We searched databases for all published studies on LV unloading strategies during VA-ECMO. The pre-defined primary outcome was all-cause mortality.

Results

45 observational studies (34235 patients) were included. The Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking values (SUCRA) demonstrated that compared to no unloading strategy (15.4 %), IABP (73.8 %), pLVAD (60.8 %), atrial septostomy (51.2 %), catheter venting (48.8 %) were all associated with decreased all-cause mortality, in which IABP and pLVAD existed statistical significance. For secondary outcomes, no unloading group had the shortest VA-ECMO duration, ICU and hospital length of stay, and the lower risk of complications compared with unloading strategies. IABP was associated with reducing VA-ECMO duration, ICU and hospital length of stay, and the risk of complications (except for hemolysis as the second best) compared with other unloading strategies.

Conclusions

LV unloading strategies during VA-ECMO were associated with improved survival compared to no unloading, but the tendency to increase the risk of various complications deserves more consideration.

Effect of intra-aortic balloon pump with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of a concomitant intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) intervention in acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock (AMICS) patients is contested in the literature. This study sought to compare short-term mortality weaning rate from VA-ECMOin AMICS cases.

METHODS

We conducted a literature review and compared the primary and secondary endpoints in the following treatment groups of AMICS patients: (1) VA-ECMO plus IABP vs. IABP alone and (2) VA-ECMO plus IABP vs. VA-ECMO alone. The primary endpoint was in-hospital all-cause mortality; while 30-days mortality, weaning from VA-ECMO, and vascular complications comprised secondary endpoints.

RESULTS

VA-ECMO concomitant with IABP was administered to 3,580 (76.4%) patients, while IABP alone and VA-ECMO alone treatments accounted for 1.7% and 21.9% of the patients, respectively. We found that in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in patients treated with VA-ECMO plus IABP vs. VA-ECMO alone (odds ratio (OR) = 0.52; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.21-1.31; I-squared statistic (I2 = 30%) or IABP alone (OR = 0.20; 95% CI = 0.08-0.55; I2 = 0%). Additionally, 30-days mortality was significantly lower in patients treated with VA-ECMO plus IABP vs. VA-ECMO alone (OR = 0.31; 95% CI = 0.25-0.40; I2 = 0%) or IABP alone (OR = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.11-0.50; I2 = 0%). A significant difference was observed in weaning from VA-ECMO in patients treated with VA-ECMO plus IABP vs. VA-ECMO alone (OR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.09-3.33; I2 = 0%).

CONCLUSION

In-hospital and 30-days mortality were significantly lower in AMICS patients treated with VA-ECMO plus IABP vs. VA-ECMO alone or IABP alone. VA-ECMO with concomitant IABP could increase the proportion of patients weaned from VA-ECMO, significantly reducing in-hospital mortality, without increasing complications.

Efficacy of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with and without intra-aortic balloon pump in adult cardiogenic shock

Introduction

Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is sometimes coupled with Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) to treat patients with cardiogenic shock. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the association of the IABP approach on survival and vascular complication rates in adults with cardiogenic shock undergoing VA-ECMO.

Methods

We performed a systematic search of original studies on VA-ECMO with and without IABP in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library.

Results

A total of 42 studies with 8,759 patients were included. The pooled in-hospital deaths of patients on VA-ECMO with and without IABP were 2,962/4,807 (61.61%) versus 2,666/3,952 (67.45%). VA-ECMO with IABP presents lower in-hospital mortality (risk ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.86-0.91; P < 0.00001). In addition, IABP was associated with lower in-hospital mortality of patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock and ischaemic heart disease. (risk ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87-0.98; P = 0.01; risk ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.82-0.89; P < 0.00001). There was no significant difference in in-hospital morbidity in neurological, gastrointestinal, limb-related, bleeding, and infection complications between patients on VA-ECMO with and without IABP.

Discussion

In these observational studies, concomitant use of IABP and VA-ECMO in adult patients with cardiogenic shock was associated with reduced in-hospital mortality.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO [CRD42017069259].

Analysis and prevention strategies of risk factors for postoperative stroke complications in cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the risk factors associated with postoperative stroke complications in cardiac surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 549 patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Among these patients, 501 did not experience a stroke postoperatively (non-stroke group), while 48 developed a postoperative stroke (stroke group). Patients who experienced a stroke postoperatively were divided into two groups based on the type of surgery: those who underwent surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (18 patients) and those without cardiopulmonary bypass (30 patients). The clinical characteristics of the two groups of patients with postoperative strokes were compared, and the risk factors influencing the occurrence of postoperative stroke complications in cardiac surgery were analyzed.

RESULTS

① Clinical findings: Cardiopulmonary bypass group had lower cortical infarction rates but higher large-area and bilateral infarction rates compared to the non-cardiopulmonary bypass group (p < 0.05). No significant gender, age, or infarction type differences were observed (p > 0.05). ② Univariate analysis: No significant differences were found in gender, smoking, alcohol, lipids, or glucose levels (p > 0.05). However, age, education, hypertension, diabetes, hypotension, and atrial fibrillation showed significant differences (p < 0.05). ③ Multivariate Logistic regression: Age, education, hypertension, diabetes, hypotension, and atrial fibrillation were independent risk factors for postoperative stroke complications (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Cardiopulmonary bypass increases risk of large-area and bilateral strokes; non-bypass surgery associates with cortical strokes. Age, educational level, hypertension, diabetes, postoperative hypotension, and atrial fibrillation are all factors independently associated with the occurrence of postoperative cerebral infarctions in cardiac surgery. Early interventions may reduce postoperative strokes.

Scrutinizing the Role of Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Has Clinical Practice Outpaced the Evidence?

The use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for temporary mechanical circulatory support in various clinical scenarios has been increasing consistently, despite the lack of sufficient evidence regarding its benefit and safety from adequately powered randomized controlled trials. Although the ARREST trial (Advanced Reperfusion Strategies for Patients with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest and Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation) and a secondary analysis of the PRAGUE OHCA trial (Prague Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest) provided some evidence in favor of VA-ECMO in the setting of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the INCEPTION trial (Early Initiation of Extracorporeal Life Support in Refractory Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest) has not found a relevant improvement of short-term mortality with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In addition, the results of the recently published ECLS-SHOCK trial (Extracorporeal Life Support in Cardiogenic Shock) and ECMO-CS trial (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the Therapy of Cardiogenic Shock) discourage the routine use of VA-ECMO in patients with infarct-related cardiogenic shock. Ongoing clinical trials (ANCHOR [Assessment of ECMO in Acute Myocardial Infarction Cardiogenic Shock, NCT04184635], REVERSE [Impella CP With VA ECMO for Cardiogenic Shock, NCT03431467], UNLOAD ECMO [Left Ventricular Unloading to Improve Outcome in Cardiogenic Shock Patients on VA-ECMO, NCT05577195], PIONEER [Hemodynamic Support With ECMO and IABP in Elective Complex High-risk PCI, NCT04045873]) may clarify the usefulness of VA-ECMO in specific patient subpopulations and the efficacy of combined mechanical circulatory support strategies. Pending further data to refine patient selection and management recommendations for VA-ECMO, it remains uncertain whether the present usage of this device improves outcomes.

Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump among Shockable Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients: A Propensity-Weighted Analysis in a Multicenter, Nationwide Observational Study in Japan (The JAAM-OHCA Registry)

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of IABP for shockable out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has not been extensively investigated. This study aimed to investigate whether the use of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) for non-traumatic shockable OHCA patients was associated with favorable neurological outcomes.

METHODS

From the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest registry, a nationwide multicenter prospective registry, we enrolled adult patients with non-traumatic and shockable OHCA for whom resuscitation was attempted, and who were transported to participating hospitals between 2014 and 2019. The primary outcome was 1-month survival with favorable neurological outcomes after OHCA. After adopting the propensity score (PS) inverse probability of weighting (IPW), we evaluated the association between IABP and favorable neurological outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 57,754 patients in the database, we included a total of 2738 adult non-traumatic shockable patients. In the original cohort, the primary outcome was lower in the IABP group (OR with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)), 0.57 (0.48-0.68), whereas, in the IPW cohort, it was not different between patients with and without IABP (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.91-1.53).

CONCLUSION

In adult patients with non-traumatic shockable OHCA, IABP use was not associated with 1-month survival with favorable neurological outcomes.

Unloading the Left Ventricle in Venoarterial ECMO: In Whom, When, and How?

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation provides cardiorespiratory support to patients in cardiogenic shock. This comes at the cost of increased left ventricle (LV) afterload that can be partly ascribed to retrograde aortic flow, causing LV distension, and leads to complications including cardiac thrombi, arrhythmias, and pulmonary edema. LV unloading can be achieved by using an additional circulatory support device to mitigate the adverse effects of mechanical overload that may increase the likelihood of myocardial recovery. Observational data suggest that these strategies may improve outcomes, but in whom, when, and how LV unloading should be employed is unclear; all techniques require balancing presumed benefits against known risks of device-related complications. This review summarizes the current evidence related to LV unloading with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Meta-analysis of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in combination with intra-aortic balloon pump vs. extracorporeal membrane oxygenation only in patients with cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction

Background

Incidence and mortality of cardiogenic shock (CS) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain high despite substantial therapy improvements in acute percutaneous coronary intervention over the last decades. Unloading the left ventricle in patients with Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) can be performed by using an intra-aortic balloon pumps' (IABP) afterload reduction, which might be especially beneficial in AMI patients with CS.

Objective

The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the effect of VA-ECMO + IABP vs. VA-ECMO treatment on the mortality of patients with CS due to AMI.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed using EMBASE, COCHRANE, and MEDLINE databases. Studies comparing the effect of VA-ECMO + IABP vs. VA-ECMO on mortality of patients with AMI were included. Meta-analyses were performed to analyze the effect of the chosen treatment on 30-day/in-hospital mortality.

Results

Twelve studies were identified by the literature search, including a total of 5,063 patients, 81.5% were male and the mean age was 65.9 years. One thousand one hundred and thirty-six patients received treatment with VA-ECMO in combination with IABP and 2,964 patients received VA-ECMO treatment only. The performed meta-analysis showed decreased mortality at 30-days/in-hospital after VA-ECMO + IABP compared to VA-ECMO only for patients with cardiogenic shock after AMI (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.30-0.44, P≤0.001). Combination of VA-ECMO + IABP was associated with higher rates of weaning success (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.16-0.53, P < 0.001) without an increase of vascular access complications (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.35-2.08, P = 0.72).

Conclusion

In this meta-analysis, combination therapy of VA-ECMO + IABP was superior to VA-ECMO only therapy in patients with CS due to AMI. In the absence of randomized data, these results are hypothesis generating only.

Acute myocardial infarction caused by Kawasaki disease requires more intensive therapy: Insights from the Japanese registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases-Diagnosis Procedure combination

BACKGROUND

Kawasaki disease (KD) induces coronary arteritis, which causes subsequent coronary aneurysms, and contributes to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the differences regarding real-world treatment selection and mortality between AMI-complicated KD and AMI due to typical atherosclerosis (AMI-non KD) are unknown.

AIM

The aim of the present study was to examine the current treatment strategy and prognosis of AMI-complicated KD compared with AMI due to typical atherosclerosis.

METHOD

We used data from 2012 to 2019 from a nationwide claim database, the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases-Diagnosis Procedure Combination.

RESULTS

Compared to the AMI-non KD patients (n = 70,227), the AMI-complicated KD patients (n = 73): (1) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) less often and more coronary artery bypass grafting, intracoronary thrombolysis or intravenous coronary thrombolysis more often; (2) underwent stentless PCI using old balloon angioplasty or rotablator, when they underwent PCI; and (3) needed in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation and intensive mechanical therapy such as intra-aortic balloon pump, percutaneous cardiopulmonary support or a respirator. Both the AMI-non KD and AMI-complicated KD patients had similar in-hospital mortality rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with AMI-non KD patients, AMI-complicated KD patients underwent non-PCI strategies such as bypass surgery or thrombolysis, and required intensive therapy with mechanical supports more often, but presented similar in-hospital mortality. When the AMI-complicated KD patients underwent PCI, stentless PCI using balloon angioplasty or rotablator was performed more often compared with the AMI-non KD patients.

Comparison of the Efficacy of ECMO With or Without IABP in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock: A Meta-Analysis

Objective

Studies on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with and without an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) for cardiogenic shock (CS) have been published, but there have been no meta-analyses that compare the efficacy of these two cardiac support methods. This meta-analysis evaluated the outcomes of these two different treatment measures.

Methods

The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Clinical Trials databases were searched until March 2022. Studies that were related to ECMO with or without IABP in patients with CS were screened. Quality assessments were evaluated with the methodological index for nonrandomized studies (MINORS). The primary outcome was in-hospital survival, while the secondary outcomes included duration of ECMO, duration of ICU stay, infection/sepsis, and bleeding. Revman 5.3 and STATA software were used for this meta-analysis.

Results

In total, nine manuscripts with 2,573 patients were included in the systematic review. CS patients who received ECMO in combination with IABP had significantly improved in-hospital survival compared with ECMO alone (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.26–1.98, P < 0.0001). However, there were no significant differences in the duration of ECMO (MD = 0.36, 95% CI = −0.12–0.84, P = 0.14), duration of ICU stay (MD = −1.95, 95% CI = −4.05–0.15, P = 0.07), incidence of infection/sepsis (OR = 1.0, 95% CI = 0.58–1.72, P = 1.0), or bleeding (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 0.48–3.45, P = 0.62) between the two groups of patients with CS.

Conclusion

ECMO combined with IABP can improve in-hospital survival more effectively than ECMO alone in patients with CS.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Infarct-Related Cardiogenic Shock

Mortality in infarct-related cardiogenic shock (CS) remains high, reaching 40-50%. In refractory CS, active mechanical circulatory support devices including veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) are rapidly evolving. However, supporting evidence of VA-ECMO therapy in infarct-related CS is low. The current review aims to give an overview on the basics of VA-ECMO therapy, current evidence, ongoing trials, patient selection and potential complications.