Extracorporeal life support in thoracic surgery

Alternative venous access sites for dual-lumen extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation

OBJECTIVES

Dual-lumen cannulas for veno-venous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support are typically inserted in the right internal jugular vein (RIJV); however, some scenarios can make this venous route inaccessible. This multicentre case series aims to evaluate if single-site cannulation using an alternative venous access is safe and feasible in patients with an inaccessible RIJV.

METHODS

We performed a multi-institutional retrospective analysis including high-volume ECMO centres with substantial experience in dual-lumen cannulation (DLC) (defined as >10 DLC per year). Three centres [Freiburg (Germany), Toronto (Canada) and Vienna (Austria)] agreed to share their data, including baseline characteristics, technical ECMO and cannulation data as well as complications related to ECMO cannulation and outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 20 patients received alternative DLC for respiratory failure. Cannula insertion sites included the left internal jugular vein (n = 5), the right (n = 7) or left (n = 3) subclavian vein and the right (n = 4) or left (n = 1) femoral vein. The median cannula size was 26 (19-28) French. The median initial target ECMO flow was 2.9 (1.8-3.1) l/min and corresponded with used cannula size and estimated cardiac output. No procedural complications were reported during cannulation and median ECMO runtime was 15 (9-22) days. Ten patients were successfully bridged to lung transplantation (n = 5) or lung recovery (n = 5). Ten patients died during or after ECMO support.

CONCLUSIONS

Alternative venous access sites for single-site dual-lumen catheters are a safe and feasible option to provide veno-venous ECMO support to patients with inaccessible RIJV.

Anesthesia for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-assisted thoracoscopic lower lobe subsegmental resection in a patient with a single left lung: A case report

BACKGROUND

It is difficult and risky for patients with a single lung to undergo thoracoscopic segmental pneumonectomy, and previous reports of related cases are rare. We introduce anesthesia for Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-assisted thoracoscopic lower lobe subsegmental resection in a patient with a single left lung.

CASE SUMMARY

The patient underwent comprehensive treatment for synovial sarcoma of the right lung and nodules in the lower lobe of the left lung. Examination showed pulmonary function that had severe restrictive ventilation disorder, forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 0.72 L (27.8%), forced vital capacity of 1.0 L (33%), and maximal voluntary ventilation of 33.9 L (35.5%). Lung computed tomography showed a nodular shadow in the lower lobe of the left lung, and lung metastasis was considered. After multidisciplinary consultation and adequate preoperative preparation, thoracoscopic left lower lung lobe S9bii+S10bii combined subsegmental resection was performed with the assistance of total intravenous anesthesia and ECMO intraoperative pulmonary protective ventilation. The patient received postoperative ICU supportive care. After surgical treatment, the patient was successfully withdrawn from ECMO on postoperative Day 1. The tracheal tube was removed on postoperative Day 4, and she was discharged from the hospital on postoperative Day 15.

CONCLUSION

The multi-disciplinary treatment provided maximum medical optimization for surgical anesthesia and veno-venous ECMO which provided adequate protection for the patient's perioperative treatment.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in oncological thoracic surgery

The use of extracorporeal lung support (ECLS) during thoracic surgery is a recent concept that has been gaining increasing approval. Firstly introduced for lung transplantation, this technique is now increasingly adopted also in oncological thoracic surgical procedures. In this review, we focus on the cutting-edge application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during oncological thoracic surgery. Therefore, we report the most common surgical procedures in oncological thoracic surgery that can benefit from the use of ECMO. They will be classified and discussed according to the aim of ECMO application. In particular, the use of ECMO is usually limited to certain lung surgery procedures that can be resumed such as in procedures in which an adequate ventilation is not possible such as in single lung patients, procedures where conventional ventilation can cause conflict with the surgical field such as tracheal or carinal surgery, and conventional procedures requiring both ventilators and hemodynamic support. So far, all available evidence comes from centers with large experience in ECMO and major thoracic surgery procedures.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Patients with Thoracic Neoplasms: An Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry Analysis

BACKGROUND

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is utilized in the management of severe cardiopulmonary failure but the indication in the oncologic population has not been clearly established. Among malignancies, thoracic neoplasms are unique in their potential direct impact on cardiopulmonary function. This study aims to better define the role of ECMO for thoracic neoplasms.

METHODS

The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry was queried for patients older than 18 years with an International Classification of Diseases code of thoracic neoplasm over the past two decades (2000-2019). Outcomes and clinical data including associated procedures were analyzed.

RESULTS

Four hundred ninety-eight patients met inclusion criteria: 34 upper airway, 247 lung, 45 unspecified respiratory tract, 4 pleura, 19 heart, 40 mediastinum, 108 esophagus, and 1 unspecified neoplasm. One hundred ninety-eight patients survived to discharge (39.8%; "survival"). Upper airway neoplasms were associated with better survival (73.5%; p=0.005) while lung neoplasms were associated with worse survival (30.0%; p<0.001) when compared with all adult ECMO runs. Of the 498 cases, 94 (18.9%) were started after thoracic or airway procedures. Favorable survival was associated with tracheal procedures (66.7%, n=9), while poor survival was seen with pneumonectomy (13.3%, n=30), any type of lung resection (23.7%, n=76), and esophageal procedures (21.4%, n=14).

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome for ECMO among patients with a thoracic neoplasm is variable, depending on clinical factors including tumor subtype and type of associated procedure. Clinicians should continue to focus on individualized patient selection to achieve optimal results.

Outcomes from the Use of Perioperative Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgery: An 8-Year Single-Center Experience

Background

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) plays an important role in thoracic surgery. This retrospective study from a single center aimed to evaluate patient outcomes from the use of perioperative ECMO in 22 patients undergoing thoracic surgery during an 8-year period.

Material/Methods

Data were collected retrospectively from 22 patients who received ECMO (veno-arterial and veno-venous ECMO) as perioperative treatment during general thoracic surgery from January 2012 to October 2020. Patients required ECMO due to perioperative cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (2 cases), perioperative pulmonary embolism (PE) (2 cases), lung transplant (4 cases), undergoing complicated thoracic surgery (5 cases), postoperative acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (6 cases), and thoracic trauma (3 cases).

Results

Veno-arterial ECMO was used for circulatory support in 13 cases and veno-venous ECMO was used for respiratory support in 9 cases. The average ECMO support time was 71.6±42.4 h. Twenty patients (90.9%) were successfully decannulated and 17 (77.2%) survived to discharge. Complications included severe hemorrhage (3/22 patients, 13.6%), sepsis (3/22, 13.6%), and destruction of blood cells (1/22, 4.5%). There were no significant differences in survival rates between patients receiving pre- or postoperative ECMO (P=0.135) or between veno-venous ECMO (V-V ECMO) and veno-arterial ECMO (V-A ECMO) (P=0.550).

Conclusions

The findings from this small retrospective study from a single center showed that perioperative ECMO improved cardiac and respiratory function in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Optimal results require surgeons to have an understanding of the indications and ability to control the complications of ECMO.

Anesthetic Management for Pulmonary Resection: Current Concepts and Improving Safety of Anesthesia

Increasingly complex procedures are routinely performed using minimally invasive approaches, allowing cancers to be resected with short hospital stays, minimal postsurgical discomfort, and improved odds of cancer-free survival. Along with these changes, the focus of anesthetic management for lung resection surgery has expanded from the provision of ideal surgical conditions and safe intraoperative patient care to include preoperative patient training and optimization and postoperative pain management techniques that can impact pulmonary outcomes as well as patient lengths of stay.

SEDAR/SECCE ECMO management consensus document

ECMO is an extracorporeal cardiorespiratory support system whose use has been increased in the last decade. Respiratory failure, postcardiotomy shock, and lung or heart primary graft failure may require the use of cardiorespiratory mechanical assistance. In this scenario perioperative medical and surgical management is crucial. Despite the evolution of technology in the area of extracorporeal support, morbidity and mortality of these patients continues to be high, and therefore the indication as well as the ECMO removal should be established within a multidisciplinary team with expertise in the area. This consensus document aims to unify medical knowledge and provides recommendations based on both the recent bibliography and the main national ECMO implantation centres experience with the goal of improving comprehensive patient care.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in lung transplantation: Indications, techniques and results

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the field of lung transplantation has rapidly expanded over the past 30 years. It has become an important tool in an increasing number of specialized centers as a bridge to transplantation and in the intra-operative and/or post-operative setting. ECMO is an extremely versatile tool in the field of lung transplantation as it can be used and adapted in different configurations with several potential cannulation sites according to the specific need of the recipient. For example, patients who need to be bridged to lung transplantation often have hypercapnic respiratory failure that may preferably benefit from veno-venous (VV) ECMO or peripheral veno-arterial (VA) ECMO in the case of hemodynamic instability. Moreover, in an intra-operative setting, VV ECMO can be maintained or switched to a VA ECMO. The routine use of intra-operative ECMO and its eventual prolongation in the post-operative period has been widely investigated in recent years by several important lung transplantation centers in order to assess the graft function and its potential protective role on primary graft dysfunction and on ischemia-reperfusion injury. This review will assess the current evidence on the role of ECMO in the different phases of lung transplantation, while analyzing different studies on pre, intra- and post-operative utilization of this extracorporeal support.

Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator Support in Lung Cancer Resection

Cardiovascular comorbidities often prevent patients with otherwise resectable early-stage lung cancer from undergoing surgery due to prohibitive peri-operative risk. Here we describe the first intraoperative use of venoarterial (VA) ECMO in a stage cIIA lung cancer patient with arterial infiltration and severe post-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (EF 23%) undergoing left upper lobectomy with pulmonary artery angioplasty. Providing intra-operative cardiovascular and respiratory function support, VA-ECMO represents a suitable option for patients with heart failure, ensuring adequate hemodynamic profile and reducing the risk of complications. These otherwise inoperable patients can thus be offered a potentially curative surgical resection of the malignancy. Surgery is the standard treatment for patients with early-stage lung cancer ¹. However, several patients with advanced heart failure may be excluded from surgery due to prohibitive perioperative risk. Providing circulatory and respiratory support, extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) may represent a suitable option for such patients ². While there is a published experience on intraoperative use of veno-venous (VV) ECMO, primarily in thoracic surgery ³, an extremely limited number of reports considered the use of venoarterial (VA)-ECMO in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery ⁴⁵. VA-ECMO is currently indicated in patients with cardiovascular failure and concomitant cardiac pump dysfunction, as in post-operative ARDS associated with septic shock ⁴; outside the intensive care unit, the use of pre-emptive VA-ECMO has traditionally been limited to patients undergoing elective ventricular tachycardia ablation and structural heart procedures⁵. Here we report the first case of intraoperative use of VA-ECMO in a patient with resectable lung cancer and ischemic heart disease with prohibitive left ventricular function, and describe the benefits of this new indication.

ECLS for Life-Threatening Complications in Mesothelioma's Surgery: Is It Worthwhile?

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is an effective method for bridging patients to recovery in cases of respiratory and/or cardiac failure that are potentially reversible and unresponsive to conventional management. Nevertheless, there have been only few reports about the use of ECLS in oncological patients with complications due to their neoplasm or its treatment. We report the use of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in three cases of severe perioperative complications following surgery for mesothelioma after induction chemotherapy at our Institution.