Referral and transportation for neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes for Neonates, Infants, and Children Referred to a Regional Pediatric Intensive Care Transport Service for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of referrals for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to a regional pediatric intensive care transport service, and identify clinical features at initial referral that predict the eventual need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

SETTING

Specialist pediatric intensive care transport service based at a large U.K. extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center.

PATIENTS

All referrals made for potential extracorporeal membrane oxygenation transport between January 2014 and July 2017.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Demographic and clinical data at the time of referral, referral outcome, and 90-day mortality status were extracted. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify clinical features at initial referral in neonates that predicted the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Of 253 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation referrals, 203 were included: 64 of 203 received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (31.5%), 18 were accepted for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation but died before extracorporeal membrane oxygenation could be provided (8.8%), and 121 did not receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (59.6%). The transport team mobilized in 136 of 203 referrals (66.9%); conventional transport to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center was successful in 127 of 136 (93.4%), while nine of 136 were too unstable to transport. The 90-day mortality for the cohort was 17.7% (36/203). In logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio of requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for diaphragmatic hernia was 12.0 (95% CI, 2.8-52.1) compared to meconium aspiration syndrome. Oxygenation index and Vasoactive-Inotropic Score were independent predictors of the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in neonates.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort of neonatal and pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation referrals to a pediatric intensive care transport service, a considerable portion of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation referrals (59.6%) continued on conventional management; however, 8.8% of the referrals died before extracorporeal membrane oxygenation could be provided. Earlier referral for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; targeted referral triage using primary diagnosis, oxygenation index, and Vasoactive-Inotropic Score; and access to mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation services and faster mobilization of transport teams are important factors that could improve outcomes.

Emergency use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in cardiopulmonary failure

Severe pulmonary and cardiopulmonary failure resistant to critical care treatment leads to hypoxemia and hypoxia-dependent organ failure. New treatment options for cardiopulmonary failure are necessary even for patients in outlying medical facilities. If these patients are in need of specialized center treatment, additional emergency medical service has to be carried out quick and safely. We describe our experiences with a pumpless extracorporeal lung assist (PECLA/iLA) for out-of-center emergency treatment of hypercapnic respiratory failure and the use of a newly developed hand-held extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system in cardiac, pulmonary, and cardiopulmonary failure (EMERGENCY-LIFE Support System, ELS System, MAQUET Cardiopulmonary AG, Hechingen, Germany). Between March 2000 and April 2009, we used the PECLA System (n = 20) and the ELS System (n = 33) in adult patients. Cannulation was employed using percutaneous vessel access. The new hand-held ELS System consists of a centrifugal pump and a membrane oxygenator, both mounted on a special holder system for storing on a standard patient gurney for air or ground ambulance transfer. Bedside cannulation processes were uneventful. The PECLA System resulted in sufficient CO(2) removal. In all ECMO patients, oxygen delivery and systemic blood flow could be restored and vasopressor support was markedly down. Hospital survival rate in the PECLA group was 50%, and 61% in the ECMO group. Out-of-center emergency treatment of hypercapnic pulmonary failure with pumpless extracorporeal gas exchange and treatment of cardiac, pulmonary, and cardiopulmonary failure with this new hand-held ECMO device is safe and highlyeffective. Patient outcome in cardiopulmonary organ failure could be improved.

Transportation of critically ill patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Serious pulmonary and cardiac failure may be treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) when conventional treatment fails. In some severely ill patients, it may be necessary to initiate ECMO at the local hospital and, thereafter, transport the patient back to the ECMO center. The aim of this study was to evaluate our experiences with transportation of patients on ECMO. From Oct 1992 to Jan 2008 23, patients were transported on ECMO from local hospitals to Rikshospitalet. The study included seventeen patients with pulmonary failure and four patients with cardiac failure. All age groups were represented. Aircraft were used in 17 cases, ground vehicles in six. The times from decision until ECMO was established, the time from ECMO to departure from the local hospital and the transportation time were registered. All transportations were uneventful. After 10.3 +/-6.7 days, six patients died on ECMO and another patient died within 30 days. Mean ECMO time for those who died was 13.3 +/- 9.6 vs. 8.5 +/- 4.7 days for survivors, p=0.34. Seventeen patients were able to be successfully weaned from ECMO. Thirty day survival was 67%. The mean age for survivors was 15.3+/-18.3 (range 0-54.6) vs. 23.6 +/- 20.3 years (range 0-55.9) in fatal cases, p=0.41. The time from referral to initiating ECMO was a mean of 7.32 +/- 2.3 (3.0-12.0) hours for survivors vs. 7.88 +/- 3.0 (3.50-13.40) hours for non- survivors, p=0.76. The time from initiating ECMO to departure was 5.1 +/- 6.5 (0.58-23.75) hours in survivors vs. 9.1 +/- 6.8 (0.55-18.45) hours in non-survivors, p=0.18. Time from departure to arrival at Rikshospitalet was a mean of 3.2 (0.50-5.10) hours for survivors versus 2.5 (0.5-4.40) for non-survivors, p=0.41. This study shows that ECMO can be successfully established at local hospitals, using an experienced team, and that transportation of patients on ECMO can be performed safely and without technical difficulties. Survival for this group of patients did not differ from patients treated at the ECMO center.

Safety and efficacy of high-frequency jet ventilation in neonatal transport

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of high-frequency jet ventilation for transporting critically ill hypoxic neonates to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) center.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 38 transported neonates. Safety was assessed by the comparison of cardiopulmonary variables before and after transport from referring hospital to our ECMO unit. Efficacy was assessed as the effect on ventilation and efficiency of pulmonary gas exchange after conversion from a conventional mechanical ventilator or a high-frequency oscillator to a high-frequency jet ventilator+/-inhaled nitric oxide.

RESULT

The pre- and post transport vital signs remained stable, regardless of the type of ventilator used. Pre-transport pneumothorax was the main problem, but no transport-related deaths occurred. We found significant improvement in the ventilation of the neonates transported with a high frequency jet ventilation+/-inhaled nitric oxide that were deficient in those transported with conventional mechanical ventilation+inhaled nitric oxide (P<0.05). The improvement started before transport upon changing the mode of ventilation to a high-frequency jet ventilator.

CONCLUSION

Independent of the use of inhaled nitric oxide, high frequency jet ventilation appears to provide better ventilation than conventional mechanical ventilation and is safe to transport pre-ECMO neonates.