Outcomes and long-term quality-of-life of patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory cardiogenic shock*:

ECMO Alone Versus ECPELLA in Patients Affected by Cardiogenic Shock: The Multicenter EVACS Study

The objective was to investigate the outcomes of concomitant venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and left ventricular unloading with Impella (ECPELLA) compared with ECMO alone to treat patients affected by cardiogenic shock. Data from patients needing mechanical circulatory support from 4 international centers were analyzed. Of 438 patients included, ECMO alone and ECPELLA were adopted in 319 (72.8%) and 119 (27.2%) patients, respectively. Propensity score matching analysis identified 95 pairs. In the matched cohort, 30-day mortality rates in the ECMO and ECPELLA were 49.5% and 43.2% ( P = 0.467). The incidences of complications did not differ significantly between groups ( P = 0.877, P = 0.629, P = 1.000, respectively). After a median follow-up of 0.18 years (interquartile range 0.02-2.55), the use of ECPELLA was associated with similar mortality compared with ECMO alone (hazard ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.54-1.20, P = 0.285), with 1-year overall survival rates of 51.3% and 46.6%, for ECPELLA and ECMO alone, respectively. ECMO alone and ECPELLA are both effective strategies in patients needing mechanical circulatory support for cardiogenic shock, showing similar rates of early and mid-term survival.

Age-Related Quality of Life in Cardiac Surgical Patients with Extracorporeal Life Support

BACKGROUND

 The rationale of the study was to analyze the impact of age on quality of life (QoL) in patients who had undergone cardiac surgery with consecutive extracorporeal life support (ECLS) treatment.

METHODS

 The study population consisted of 200 patients, operated upon between August 2006 and December 2018. The patient cohort was divided into two groups following an arbitrary cutoff age of 70 years. Comparative outcome analysis was calculated utilizing the European Quality of Life-5-Dimensions-5-Level Version (EQ-5D-5L).

RESULTS

 A total of 113 patients were 70 years or less old (group young), whereas 87 patients were older than 70 years (group old). In 45.7% of cases, the ECLS system was established during cardiogenic shock and external cardiac massage. The overall survival-to-discharge was 31.5% (n = 63), with a significantly better survival in the younger patient group (young = 38.9%; old = 21.8%, p = 0.01). Forty-two patients (66%) responded to the QoL survey after a median follow-up of 4.3 years. Older patients reported more problems with mobility (y = 52%; o = 88%, p = 0.02) and self-care (y = 24%; o = 76%, p = 0.01). However, the patients' self-rated health status utilizing the Visual Analogue Scale revealed no differences (y = 70% [50-80%]; o = 70% [60-80%], p = 0.38). Likewise, the comparison with an age-adjusted German reference population revealed similar QoL indices. There were no statistically significant differences in the EQ-5D-5L index values related to sex, number of comorbidities, and emergency procedures.

CONCLUSION

 Despite the limited sample size due to the high mortality rate especially in elderly, the present study suggests that QoL of elderly patients surviving ECLS treatment is almost comparable to younger patients.

Cardiopulmonary bypass and VA-ECMO induced immune dysfunction: common features and differences, a narrative review

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation are critical tools in contemporary cardiac surgery and intensive care, respectively. While these techniques share similar components, their application contexts differ, leading to distinct immune dysfunctions which could explain the higher incidence of nosocomial infections among ECMO patients compared to those undergoing CPB. This review explores the immune modifications induced by these techniques, comparing their similarities and differences, and discussing potential treatments to restore immune function and prevent infections. The immune response to CPB and ECMO involves both humoral and cellular components. The kinin system, complement system, and coagulation cascade are rapidly activated upon blood contact with the circuit surfaces, leading to the release of pro-inflammatory mediators. Ischemia-reperfusion injury and the release of damage-associated molecular patterns further exacerbate the inflammatory response. Cellular responses involve platelets, neutrophils, monocytes, dendritic cells, B and T lymphocytes, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, all of which undergo phenotypic and functional alterations, contributing to immunoparesis. Strategies to mitigate immune dysfunctions include reducing the inflammatory response during CPB/ECMO and enhancing immune functions. Approaches such as off-pump surgery, corticosteroids, complement inhibitors, leukocyte-depleting filters, and mechanical ventilation during CPB have shown varying degrees of success in clinical trials. Immunonutrition, particularly arginine supplementation, has also been explored with mixed results. These strategies aim to balance the inflammatory response and support immune function, potentially reducing infection rates and improving outcomes. In conclusion, both CPB and ECMO trigger significant immune alterations that increase susceptibility to nosocomial infections. Addressing these immune dysfunctions through targeted interventions is essential to improving patient outcomes in cardiac surgery and critical care settings. Future research should focus on refining these strategies and developing new approaches to better manage the immune response in patients undergoing CPB and ECMO.

Butyrylcholinesterase levels correlate with surgical site infection risk and severity after colorectal surgery: a prospective single-center study

Introduction

Surgical site infections (SSIs) after colorectal surgery remain a significant concern, which warrants effective predictive markers for prompt diagnosis and treatment. Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a non-specific cholinesterase enzyme, has been correlated with the risk of hepatic dysfunction progression and, more recently, infectious diseases and septic shock with ongoing research into the utility of BChE in multiple systemic inflammatory conditions. Whether these preliminary results can be translated into predicting infection after colorectal surgery remains in remains in question. This prospective study aimed to assess BChE's potential as a predictive marker for surgical site infections and anastomotic leaks after colorectal surgery.

Materials and methods

This single-center prospective study (11/2019-05/2023) enrolled 402 patients who underwent colorectal surgery. BChE levels were measured at four postoperative time points. The primary endpoints focused on BChE's association with complications, particularly surgical site infections (SSIs). Further known predictors of SSI were utilized to construct multivariable models to assess for independent association with SSI development.

Results

During the third and fifth day postsurgery, SSI patients had significantly lower mean BChE levels (3.90 KU/L vs. 4.54 KU/L p-value < 0.05, and 4.14 KU/L vs. 4.73 KU/L, p-value < 0.05; t-test, respectively). However, multivariate analysis revealed that when adjusted for other factors, low BChE levels on the first postoperative day were associated with 2.6 times higher odds of developing SSI (OR: 2.6, 95%CI: 1.3-3.9, p-value < 0.05). Similar results were found for low BChE levels on the third postoperative day as they were associated with a. 2.53 times higher odds for developing SSI (OR: 2.5, 95%CI: 1.27-3.87, p-value < 0.05) when adjusted for other factors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, in this prospective observational study, low levels in the first and third postsurgery were associated with an increased risk for the development of SSIs but not sepsis.

Factors influencing the prognosis of patients with cardiogenic shock treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cardiogenic shock is a clinical syndrome caused by primary heart disease that results in decreased cardiac output and insufficient systemic perfusion. A study was conducted to determine what factors affect survival in patients with cardiogenic shock treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted across various databases, including CKNI, VIP, Wan Fang, CBM, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases, to gather factors linked to the prognosis of patients with cardiogenic shock who underwent ECMO treatment. The search period for each database was set to conclude on April 30, 2024.

RESULTS

The findings suggest that, in comparison to the death group, the lactic acid levels of the survival group after treatment were significantly lower (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.79, -0.58). In addition, the creatinine levels of the survival group after treatment were also significantly lower than those of the death group (95% CI: -0.39, -0.14). Furthermore, the troponin levels in the survival group after treatment were lower than those in the death group (95% CI: -0.32, 0.04), and the total bilirubin levels in the survival group after treatment were also lower than those in the death group (95% CI: -0.62, -0.23).

CONCLUSIONS

According to the study, total bilirubin, creatinine, and lactic acid levels were lower in the survival group than in the death group when ECMO was used to treat cardiogenic patients, suggesting a better prognosis for patients with cardiogenic shock. Therefore, total bilirubin, creatinine, and lactic acid could be influential factors in the prognosis of survival in patients with cardiogenic shock.

Bleeding complications, coagulation disorders, and their management in acute myocardial infarction-related cardiogenic shock rescued by veno-arterial ECMO: A retrospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Management of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients on venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane (VA-ECMO) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is challenging. Our objective was to describe the frequency, management and outcomes of severe bleeding complications and determine their occurrence risk factors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study including post-AMI cardiogenic shock patients requiring VA-ECMO. Severe bleeding was defined based on the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium classification. We calculated multivariable Fine-Gray models to assess factors associated with risk of severe bleeding.

RESULTS

From January 2015 to July 2019, 176 patients received VA-ECMO after AMI and 132 patients were included. Sixty-five (49%) patients died. Severe bleeding occurred in 39% of cases. Severe thrombocytopenia (< 50 G/L) and hypofibrinogenemia (<1,5 g/L) occurred in respectively 31% and 19% of patients. DAPT was stopped in 32% of patients with a 6% rate of stent thrombosis. Anticoagulation was stopped in 39% of patients. Using a multivariate competing risk model, female sex, time on ECMO, troponin at admission and Impella® implantation were independently associated with severe bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Bleeding complications and coagulation disorders were frequent and severe in patients on VA-ECMO after AMI, leading of antiplatelet therapy withdrawal in one third of patients.

Treatment time limit for successful weaning from veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in cardiogenic shock

AIMS

Knowing the upper time limit for successful weaning from temporary mechanical circulatory support in cardiogenic shock will help with decision-making regarding advanced heart failure (HF) therapy or considering withdrawal of care. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the support duration and successful weaning from veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in patients with cardiogenic shock.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A retrospective single-centre cohort study was conducted between January 2013 and June 2023. It included 100 consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock who were treated with VA-ECMO. Patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were excluded. The primary outcome was successful weaning from VA-ECMO (i.e., VA-ECMO decannulation and survival to discharge). The association between the length of support duration and the weaning success rate was analysed. Patients were divided into three groups according to ECMO support duration: Group A (≤7 days), Group B (8-14 days), and Group C (≥15 days). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of the length of support duration on successful weaning of VA-ECMO. The median age was 67 years, and 73% of study participants were male. The underlying aetiologies of cardiogenic shock were as follows: acute myocardial infarction, 50; fulminant myocarditis, 19; cardiomyopathy, 15; valvular heart disease, 8; and other, 8. Seventy-five patients (75%) were attempted to wean VA-ECMO, and 67 moved on to decannulation. In total, 43 (43%) patients were successfully weaned from VA-ECMO. The median length of ECMO support duration was 8 [3-15] days. Compared with those who underwent successful ECMO decannulation, those who did not had a significantly longer support duration of VA-ECMO (5 [3-9] days vs. 12 [3-22] days, P = 0.004). The weaning success rate was significantly higher in patients with short support duration; 58% (29/50), 40% (10/25), 16% (4/25) in Groups A, B, and C, respectively (P = 0.002). Overall, none of the patients supported for over 24 days (0/11) were successfully weaned from VA-ECMO. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, the length of support duration was independently associated with successful weaning after adjusting for age, sex, underlying aetiology, and left ventricular ejection fraction (odds ratio, 0.813 [per 3 days]; 95% confidence interval, 0.679-0.914; P = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

Long support duration of VA-ECMO was significantly associated with a low rate of successful weaning in patients with cardiogenic shock. Patients who require VA-ECMO for over 1 week should start considering advanced HF therapy or withdrawal of care.

Neurological Complications of the Lower Extremities After Femoral Cannulated Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Femoral cannulated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been associated with neurologic complications in the lower extremity ipsilateral to the cannulation. There is uncertainty about the prevalence of these complications and their mechanisms of development.

OBJECTIVE

Aim of this systematic review was to investigate the prevalence of neurological complications after ECMO and to describe possible underlying mechanisms.

METHOD

A systematic literature search was performed in Medline-Ovid, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PEDro until April 2021 for clinical trials in English or German language which quantified neurologic complications in the lower extremity ipsilateral to the ECMO cannulation of adults. The complications had to be delimitable to intensive care unit-acquired weakness. Methodological quality was assessed by 2 independent investigators using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

RESULTS

Eight observational studies were included in the synthesis. Study quality was good to fair in 88% of the papers. Overall, 47 of 202 patients (23.3%; ranging from 3% to 48% across studies) with femoral ECMO cannulation showed neurologic complications of the lower extremity ipsilateral to the cannulation. Peripheral ischemia and compression of nerves by the ECMO cannula are discussed as mechanisms of injury.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of neurological complications after ECMO was common and can lead to long-term impairment. The mechanisms are largely unknown but currently there is no sufficient evidence for the involvement of ECMO. Standardized assessments are needed to systematically screen for neurological complications early after ECMO, to enable countermeasures and prevent further complications.

Comparing Outcomes of Post-Cardiotomy Cardiogenic Shock Patients: On-Site Cannulation vs. Retrieval for V-A ECMO Support

Background: Post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) remains a life-threatening complication after cardiac surgery. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) represents the mainstay of mechanical circulatory support for PCCS; however, its availability is limited to larger experienced centers, leading to a mismatch between centers performing cardiac surgery and hospitals offering ECMO management beyond cannulation. We sought to evaluate the outcomes and complications of PCCS patients requiring veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO cannulated at our hospital compared to those cannulated at referral hospitals. Methods: A retrospective analysis of PCCS patients requiring V-A ECMO was conducted between October 2014 to December 2022. Results: A total of 121 PCCS patients required V-A ECMO support, of which 62 (51%) patients were cannulated at the referring institutions and retrieved (retrieved group), and 59 (49%) were cannulated at our hospital (on-site group). The baseline demographics and pre-ECMO variables were similar between groups, except retrieved patients had higher lactic acid levels (retrieved group: 8.5 mmol/L ± 5.8 vs. on-site group: 6.6 ± 5; p = 0.04). Coronary artery bypass graft was the most common surgical intervention (51% in the retrieved group vs. 47% in the on-site group). There was no difference in survival-to-discharge rates between the groups (45% in the retrieved group vs. 51% in the on-site group; p = 0.53) or in the rate of patient-related complications. Conclusions: PCCS patients retrieved on V-A ECMO can achieve similar outcomes as those cannulated at experienced centers. An established network in a hub-and-spoke model is critical for the PCCS patients managed at hospitals without ECMO abilities to improve outcomes.

Head-to-toe bedside ultrasound for adult patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Bedside ultrasound represents a well-suited diagnostic and monitoring tool for patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) who may be too unstable for transport to other hospital areas for diagnostic tests. The role of ultrasound, however, starts even before ECMO initiation. Every patient considered for ECMO should have a thorough ultrasonographic assessment of cardiac and valvular function, as well as vascular anatomy without delaying ECMO cannulation. The role of pre-ECMO ultrasound is to confirm the indication for ECMO, identify clinical situations for which ECMO is not indicated, rule out contraindications, and inform the choice of ECMO configuration. During ECMO cannulation, the use of vascular and cardiac ultrasound reduces the risk of complications and ensures adequate cannula positioning. Ultrasound remains key for monitoring during ECMO support and troubleshooting ECMO complications. For instance, ultrasound is helpful in the assessment of drainage insufficiency, hemodynamic instability, biventricular function, persistent hypoxemia, and recirculation on venovenous (VV) ECMO. Lung ultrasound can be used to monitor signs of recovery on VV ECMO. Brain ultrasound provides valuable diagnostic and prognostic information on ECMO. Echocardiography is essential in the assessment of readiness for liberation from venoarterial (VA) ECMO. Lastly, post decannulation ultrasound mainly aims at identifying post decannulation thrombosis and vascular complications. This review will cover the role of head-to-toe ultrasound for the management of adult ECMO patients from decision to initiate ECMO to the post decannulation phase.

Mid-Term Outcome after Extracorporeal Life Support in Postcardiotomy Cardiogenic Shock: Recovery and Quality of Life

Background: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) therapy for refractory postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (rPCS) is associated with high early mortality rates. This study aimed to identify negative predictors of mid-term survival and to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and recovery of the survivors. Methods: Between 2017 and 2020, 142 consecutive patients received ECLS therapy following cardiac surgery. The median age was 66.0 [57.0-73.0] years, 67.6% were male and the median EuroSCORE II was 10.5% [4.2-21.3]. In 48 patients, HRQoL was examined using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the modified Rankin-Scale (mRS) at a median follow-up time of 2.2 [1.9-3.2] years. Results: Estimated survival rates at 3, 12, 24 and 36 months were 47%, 46%, 43% and 43% (SE: 4%). Multivariable Cox Proportional Hazard regression analysis revealed preoperative EuroSCORE II (p = 0.013), impaired renal function (p = 0.010), cardiopulmonary bypass duration (p = 0.015) and pre-ECLS lactate levels (p = 0.004) as independent predictors of mid-term mortality. At the time of follow-up, 83.3% of the survivors were free of moderate to severe disability (mRS < 3). SF-36 analysis showed a physical component summary of 45.5 ± 10.2 and a mental component summary of 50.6 ± 12.5. Conclusions: Considering the disease to be treated, ECLS for rPCS is associated with acceptable mid-term survival, health-related quality of life and functional status. Preoperative EuroSCORE II, impaired renal function, cardiopulmonary bypass duration and lactate levels prior to ECLS implantation were identified as negative predictors and should be included in the decision-making process.

Intravascular imaging-guided percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

There are no clinical data on the efficacy of intravascular imaging-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with angiography-guided PCI in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiogenic shock. The current study sought to evaluate the impact of intravascular imaging-guided PCI in patients with AMI and cardiogenic shock.

METHODS

Among a total of 28 732 patients from the nationwide pooled registry of KAMIR-NIH (November, 2011 to December, 2015) and KAMIR-V (January, 2016 to June, 2020), we selected a total of 1833 patients (6.4%) with AMI and cardiogenic shock who underwent PCI of the culprit vessel. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 1 year, a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, and definite or probable stent thrombosis.

RESULTS

Among the study population, 375 patients (20.5%) underwent intravascular imaging-guided PCI and 1458 patients (79.5%) underwent angiography-guided PCI. Intravascular imaging-guided PCI was associated with a significantly lower risk of 1-year MACE than angiography-guided PCI (19.5% vs 28.2%; HR, 0.59; 95%CI, 0.45-0.77; P<.001), mainly driven by a lower risk of cardiac death (13.7% vs 24.0%; adjusted HR, 0.53; 95%CI, 0.39-0.72; P<.001). These results were consistent in propensity score matching (HR, 0.68; 95%CI, 0.46-0.99), inverse probability weighting (HR, 0.61; 95%CI, 0.45-0.83), and Bayesian analysis (Odds ratio, 0.66, 95% credible interval, 0.49-0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

In AMI patients with cardiogenic shock, intravascular imaging-guided PCI was associated with a lower risk of MACE at 1-year than angiography-guided PCI, mainly driven by the lower risk of cardiac death.

Management of cardiogenic shock: a narrative review

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is characterized by low cardiac output and sustained tissue hypoperfusion that may result in end-organ dysfunction and death. CS is associated with high short-term mortality, and its management remains challenging despite recent advances in therapeutic options. Timely diagnosis and multidisciplinary team-based management have demonstrated favourable effects on outcomes. We aimed to review evidence-based practices for managing patients with ischemic and non-ischemic CS, detailing the multi-organ supports needed in this critically ill patient population.

Impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-related complications on in-hospital mortality

INTRODUCTION

Although extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a well-established treatment for supporting severe cardiopulmonary failure, the morbidity and mortality of patients requiring ECMO support remain high. Evaluating and correcting potential risk factors associated with any ECMO-related complications may improve care and decrease mortality. This study aimed to assess the predictors of ECMO-related vascular and cerebrovascular complications among adult patients and to test the hypothesis that ECMO-related complications are associated with higher in-hospital mortality rates.

METHODS

This single-center, retrospective study included 856 ECMO runs administered via cannulation of the femoral vessels of 769 patients: venoarterial (VA) ECMO (n = 709, 82.8%) and venovenous (VV) ECMO (n = 147, 17.2%). The study outcomes included the occurrence of ECMO-related vascular and cerebrovascular complications and in-hospital death. The association of ECMO-related complications with the risk of in-hospital death was analyzed.

RESULTS

The incidences of ECMO-related vascular and cerebrovascular complications were 20.2% and 13.6%, respectively. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 48.7%: 52.8% among VA ECMO runs and 29.3% among VV ECMO runs. Multivariable analysis indicated that age (P < 0.01), cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation (P < 0.01), continuous renal replacement therapy (P < 0.01), and initial platelet count [<50×103/μL (P = 0.02) and 50-100(×103)/μL (P < 0.01)] were associated with an increased risk of in-hospital death. ECMO-related vascular and cerebrovascular complications were not independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality rates for VA or VV ECMO runs.

CONCLUSION

ECMO-related vascular and cerebrovascular complications were not associated with an increased risk of in-hospital death among adult patients.

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in immunocompromised patients with cardiogenic shock: a cohort study and propensity-weighted analysis

PURPOSE

The outcomes of immunocompromised patients with cardiogenic shock treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) are seldom documented, making ECMO candidacy decisions challenging. This study aims (1) to report outcomes of immunocompromised patients treated with VA-ECMO, (2) to identify pre-ECMO predictors of 90-day mortality, (3) to assess the impact of immunodepression on 90-day mortality, and (4) to describe the main ECMO-related complications.

METHODS

This is a retrospective, propensity-weighted study conducted in two French experienced ECMO centers.

RESULTS

From January 2006 to January 2022, 177 critically ill immunocompromised patients (median (interquartile range, IQR) age 49 (32-60) years) received VA-ECMO. The main causes of immunosuppression were long-term corticosteroids/immunosuppressant treatment (29%), hematological malignancy (26%), solid organ transplant (20%), and solid tumor (13%). Overall 90-day and 1-year mortality were 70% (95% confidence interval (CI) 63-77%) and 75% (95% CI 65-79%), respectively. Older age and higher pre-ECMO lactate were independently associated with 90-day mortality. Across immunodepression causes, 1-year mortality ranged from 58% for patients with infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or asplenia, to 89% for solid organ transplant recipients. Hemorrhagic and infectious complications affected 39% and 54% of patients, while more than half the stay in intensive care unit (ICU) was spent on antibiotics. In a propensity score-weighted model comparing the 177 patients with 942 non-immunocompromised patients experiencing cardiogenic shock on VA-ECMO, immunocompromised status was independently associated with a higher 90-day mortality (odds ratio 2.53, 95% CI 1.72-3.79).

CONCLUSION

Immunocompromised patients undergoing VA-ECMO treatment face an unfavorable prognosis, with higher 90-day mortality compared to non-immunocompromised patients. This underscores the necessity for thorough evaluation and careful selection of ECMO candidates within this frail population.

Systemic Hemodynamics, Cardiac Mechanics, and Signaling Pathways Induced by Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Cardiogenic Shock Model

Peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is increasingly being used in patients suffering from refractory cardiogenic shock (CS). Although considered life-saving, peripheral VA-ECMO may also be responsible for intracardiac hemodynamic changes, including left ventricular overload and dysfunction. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may also increase myocardial wall stress and stroke work, possibly affecting the cellular cardioprotective and apoptosis signaling pathways, and thus the infarct size. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of increasing the peripheral VA-ECMO blood flow (25-100% of the baseline cardiac output) on systemic and cardiac hemodynamics in a closed-chest CS model. Upon completion of the experiment, the hearts were removed for assessment of infarct size, histology, apoptosis measurements, and phosphorylation statuses of p38 and protein Kinase B (Akt), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK-MAPK). Peripheral VA-ECMO restored systemic perfusion but induced a significant and blood flow-dependent increase in left ventricular preload and afterload. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation did not affect infarct size but significantly decreased p38-MAPK phosphorylation and cardiac myocyte apoptosis in the border zone.

Prediction of In-Hospital Mortality for Ischemic Cardiogenic Shock Requiring Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

BACKGROUND

Clinical outcome of ischemic cardiogenic shock (CS) requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is highly variable, necessitating appropriate assessment of prognosis. However, a systemic predictive model estimating the mortality of refractory ischemic CS is lacking. The PRECISE (Prediction of In-Hospital Mortality for Patients With Refractory Ischemic Cardiogenic Shock Requiring Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support) score was developed to predict the prognosis of refractory ischemic CS due to acute myocardial infarction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data were obtained from the multicenter CS registry RESCUE (Retrospective and Prospective Observational Study to Investigate Clinical Outcomes and Efficacy of Left Ventricular Assist Device for Korean Patients With Cardiogenic Shock) that consists of 322 patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by refractory ischemic CS requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Fifteen parameters were selected to assess in-hospital mortality. The developed model was validated internally and externally using an independent external cohort (n=138). Among 322 patients, 138 (42.9%) survived postdischarge. Fifteen predictors were included for model development: age, diastolic blood pressure, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, peak lactic acid, serum creatinine, lowest left ventricular ejection fraction, vasoactive inotropic score, shock to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation insertion time, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, use of intra-aortic balloon pump, continuous renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilator, successful coronary revascularization, and staged percutaneous coronary intervention. The PRECISE score yielded a high area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (0.894 [95% CI, 0.860-0.927]). External validation and calibration resulted in competent sensitivity (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve, 0.895 [95% CI, 0.853-0.930]).

CONCLUSIONS

The PRECISE score demonstrated high predictive performance and directly translates into the expected in-hospital mortality rate. The PRECISE score may be used to support clinical decision-making in ischemic CS (www.theprecisescore.com).

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02985008.

The IMPACT Score: A New Score to Predict the Risk of Early Mortality in Cardiogenic Shock Patients Treated With Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

OBJECTIVES

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) requires considerable human and financial resources. Few studies have focused on early mortality (ie, occurring within 72 hours after VA-ECMO implantation). The objective of this study was to establish a prognosis score-the IMPACT score (prediction of early mortality associated with VA-ECMO using preimplantation characteristics)-by determining the risk factors associated with early mortality.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective and observational study.

SETTING

The study was conducted at a University hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

This single-center retrospective study included 147 patients treated with VA-ECMO for cardiogenic shock between 2014 and 2021.

METHODS

The primary outcome was early mortality (ie, occurring within 72 hours after VA-ECMO implantation). Multivariate logistic regression was performed using a bootstrapping methodology to identify factors independently associated with early mortality. To construct the score, identified variables had points (pts) assigned corresponding to their odds ratio.

RESULTS

A total of 147 patients were included in the study. Early mortality (<72 hours) was 26% (38 patients). Four variables were established: cardiac arrest (2 pts), lactate levels (3 pts), platelet count <100 g/L (4 pts), and renal-replacement therapy (5 pts). The IMPACT score had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.78 (95% CI 0.86-0.70) to predict early mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In the authors' experience, 26% of patients treated with VA-ECMO presented early mortality. The IMPACT score is a reliable predictor of early mortality and may assist with VA-ECMO initiation decision-making.

Clinical Value of Troponin Levels to Cardiac Function and Prognosis in Patients with Fulminant Myocarditis

Troponin (Tn) is a biomarker related to myocardial necrosis and is elevated in patients with myocarditis. This study aimed to investigate the association between cardiac Tn levels and the course of cardiac function, and prognosis in patients with fulminant myocarditis (FM) receiving percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (MCS).We used data from a multicenter retrospective registry, CHANGE PUMP 2, which included 216 patients with FM who required MCS. Among them, 141 patients whose Tn levels were available were analyzed. The patients were divided into low and high Tn groups according to the median values of TnT and TnI.The median age was 54 years, and 59.6% were male. The TnT and TnI on day 1 (at MCS initiation) were 3.8 (1.4-10.0) and 21.4 (8.4-68.8) ng/mL. While the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was similar on day 1 (25.0% versus 24.5%), the low Tn group showed better LVEF improvement on day 7 than the high Tn group (45.0% versus 25.3%, P < 0.001). LVEF at 1 year after admission was higher in the low Tn group (65.0% versus 59.7%, P = 0.039). The low Tn group had a better 90-day composite endpoint in death, durable left ventricular assist device implantation, and heart transplantation compared to the high Tn group (hazard ratio 0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.95).Tn levels were associated with short- and long-term cardiac recovery and adverse outcomes in patients with FM receiving MCS due to cardiogenic shock.

The impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock post-acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims

Cardiogenic shock remains the leading cause of death in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is increasingly used in the treatment of infarct-related cardiogenic shock. However, there is limited evidence regarding its beneficial impact on mortality. The aim of this study was to systematically review studies reporting the impact of VA-ECMO on mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.

Methods and results

A comprehensive search of medical databases (Cochrane Register and PubMed) was conducted. Studies that reported mortality outcomes in patients treated with VA-ECMO for infarct-related cardiogenic shock were included. The database search yielded 1194 results, of which 11 studies were included in the systematic review. Four of these studies, with a total of 586 patients, were randomized controlled trials and were included in the meta-analysis. This demonstrated that there was no significant difference in 30-day all-cause mortality with the use of VA-ECMO compared with standard medical therapy [odds ratio (OR) 0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65-1.27]. Meta-analysis of two studies showed that VA-ECMO was associated with a significant reduction in 12-month all-cause mortality (OR 0.31; 95% CI 0.11-0.86). Qualitative synthesis of the observational studies showed that age, serum creatinine, serum lactate, and successful revascularization are independent predictors of mortality.

Conclusion

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation does not improve 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock following acute myocardial infarction; however, there may be significant reduction in all-cause mortality at 12 months. Further studies are needed to delineate the potential benefit of VA-ECMO in long-term outcomes.

Registration

The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (ID: CRD42023461740).

Age and associated outcomes among patients receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry

PURPOSE

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) can be used to support severely ill patients with cardiogenic shock. While age is commonly used in patient selection, little is known regarding its association with outcomes in this population. We sought to evaluate the association between increasing age and outcomes following V-A ECMO.

METHODS

We used individual-level patient data from 440 centers in the international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry. We included all adult patients receiving V-A ECMO from 2017 to 2019. The primary outcome was hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included a composite of complications following initiation of V-A ECMO. We conducted Bayesian analyses of the relationship between increasing age and outcomes of interest.

RESULTS

We included 15,172 patients receiving V-A ECMO. Of these, 8172 (53.9%) died in hospital. For the analysis conducted using weakly informed priors, and as compared to the reference category of age 18-29, the age bracket of 30-39 (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% credible interval [CrI] 0.79-1.10) was not associated with hospital mortality, but age brackets 40-49 (odds ratio [OR] 1.26, 95% CrI: 1.08-1.47), 50-59 (OR 1.78, 95% CrI: 1.55-2.06), 60-69 (OR 2.24, 95% CrI: 1.94-2.59), 70-79 (OR 2.90, 95% CrI: 2.49-3.39) and ≥ 80 (OR 4.02, 95% CrI: 3.13-5.20) were independently associated with increasing hospital mortality. Similar results were found in the analysis conducted with an informative prior, as well as between increasing age and post-ECMO complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients receiving V-A ECMO for cardiogenic shock, increasing age is strongly associated with increasing odds of death and complications, and this association emerges as early as 40 years of age.

Acute coronary syndrome associated cardiogenic shock in the catheterization laboratory: peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenator management and recommendations

Cardiogenic shock (CS) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a critical disease with high mortality rates requiring complex treatment to maximize patient survival chances. Emergent coronary revascularization along with circulatory support are keys to saving lives. Mechanical circulatory support may be instigated in severe, yet still reversible instances. Of these, the peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (pVA-ECMO) is the most widely used system for both circulatory and respiratory support. The aim of our work is to provide a review of our current understanding of the pVA-ECMO when used in the catheterization laboratory in a CS ACS setting. We detail the workings of a Shock Team: pVA-ECMO specifics, circumstances, and timing of implantations and discuss possible complications. We place emphasis on how to select the appropriate patients for potential pVA-ECMO support and what characteristics and parameters need to be assessed. A detailed, stepwise implantation algorithm indicating crucial steps is also featured for practitioners in the catheter laboratory. To provide an overall aspect of pVA-ECMO use in CS ACS we further gave pointers including relevant human resource, infrastructure, and consumables management to build an effective Shock Team to treat CS ACS via the pVA-ECMO method.

How effective is extracorporeal life support for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest initiated at the emergency department? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is commonly initiated for adults experiencing cardiac arrest within the cardiac catheterization lab or the intensive care unit. However, the potential benefit of ECPR for these patients in the emergency department (ED) remains undocumented. This study aims to assess the benefit of ECPR initiated in the ED for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing ECPR initiated in the ED versus conventional CPR. Relevant articles were identified by searching several databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane collaborations up to July 31, 2022. Pooled estimates were calculated using the inverse variance heterogeneity method, while heterogeneity was evaluated using Q and I2 statistics. The risk of bias in included studies was evaluated using validated bias assessment tools. The primary outcome was a favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge, and the secondary outcome was survival to hospital discharge or 30-day survival. Sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the benefits of ED-initiated ECPR in studies utilizing propensity score (PPS) analysis. Publication bias was assessed using Doi plots and the Luis Furuya-Kanamori (LFK) index.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis included a total of eight studies comprising 51,173 patients. ED-initiated ECPR may not be associated with a significant increase in favorable neurological outcomes (odds ratio [OR] 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.30-6.70, I2 = 96%). However, this intervention may be linked to improved survival to hospital discharge (OR 3.34, 95% CI 2.23-5.01, I2 = 17%). Notably, when analyzing only PPS data, ED-initiated ECPR demonstrated efficacy for both favorable neurological outcomes (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.26-2.83, I2 = 21%) and survival to hospital discharge (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.52-7.49, I2 = 57%). Publication bias was detected for primary (LFK index 2.50) and secondary (LFK index 2.14) outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that ED-initiated ECPR may not offer significant benefits in terms of favorable neurological outcomes for OHCA patients. However, it may be associated with increased survival to hospital discharge. Future studies should prioritize randomized trials with larger sample sizes and strive for homogeneity in patient populations to obtain more robust evidence in this area.

Prognostic impact of lung computed tomography density in cardiogenic shock patients with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary complications often occur in patients receiving veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO). However, the prognostic impact of lung damage has not been fully elucidated.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective observational study targeted patients with cardiogenic shock who received VA ECMO between 2012 and 2021. This study included 65 patients who underwent chest computed tomography (CT) on VA ECMO, followed by escalation to central mechanical circulatory support (MCS) with left ventricular venting. The average density of lung CT images was measured using region-of-interest methods, and the primary endpoint was 180-day all-cause death after escalation to the central MCS.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients (34%) developed 180-day all-cause death. According to the Cox regression analysis, age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.14; p = 0.001), ischemic etiology (HR, 5.53; 95% CI, 2.09-14.62; p < 0.001), duration of VA ECMO support (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.00-1.40; p = 0.045), and lung CT density (≥ -481 Hounsfield unit [HU]) (HR, 6.33; 95% CI, 2.26-17.72; p < 0.001) were independently associated with all-cause death. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis determined that lung CT density ≥ -481 HU is an optimal cutoff value for predicting all-cause death (area under the curve [AUC], 0.72). The 180-day overall survival rate for patients with high lung CT density (≥ -481 HU) was significantly lower than that for those with low lung CT density (< -481 HU) (44.4% vs. 81.6%, respectively, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher lung CT density could be a useful predictor of death in patients with VA ECMO requiring central MCS escalation.

Analysis of 24-hour Death Risk Factors in Circulatory Failure Patients Treated with Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

OBJECTIVE

To explore the factors affecting short-term prognosis of circulatory failure patients undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) treatment.

METHODS

A total of 136 patients undergoing VA-ECMO were enrolled in this study and subsequently divided into the death group (n=35) and the survival group (n=101) based on whether death occurred during hospitalisation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) running time, length of intensive care unit stay, length of hospital stay, costs, and ECMO complications were then compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The average age of all patients undergoing ECMO was 47.64±16.78 years (53.2±16.20 years in the death group and 45.713±16.62 years in the survival group) (P=0.022). Patients in the survival group exhibited a clear downward trend in lactic acid value following ECMO treatment compared to those in the death group. Total hospitalisation stay was longer in the survival group (35 days) than in the death group (15.5 days) (P<0.001). In the analysis of ECMO complications, the incidence of neurological complications, renal failure, limb complications, and infection were higher in the death group than in the survival group (P<0.05 for all). Specifically, as a risk factor for patient survival and discharge, the occurrence of infection will lead to increased hospitalisation stays and costs (P<0.05 for both).

CONCLUSION

Complications such as kidney failure and infection are associated with in-hospital death, and ECMO-related complications should be actively prevented to improve the survival rate of VA-ECMO treatment.

Urine output as one of the most important features in differentiating in-hospital death among patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a random forest approach

BACKGROUND

It is common to support cardiovascular function in critically ill patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The purpose of this study was to identify patients receiving ECMO with a considerable risk of dying in hospital using machine learning algorithms.

METHODS

A total of 1342 adult patients on ECMO support were randomly assigned to the training and test groups. The discriminatory power (DP) for predicting in-hospital mortality was tested using both random forest (RF) and logistic regression (LR) algorithms.

RESULTS

Urine output on the first day of ECMO implantation was found to be one of the most predictive features that were related to in-hospital death in both RF and LR models. For those with oliguria, the hazard ratio for 1 year mortality was 1.445 (p < 0.001, 95% CI 1.265-1.650).

CONCLUSIONS

Oliguria within the first 24 h was deemed especially significant in differentiating in-hospital death and 1 year mortality.

Quality of life after extra corporeal life support therapy

BACKGROUND

Extra Corporeal Life Support (ECLS) may be a life-saving treatment for patients with reversible cardiac and/or respiratory failure. ECLS is associated with a high risk of complications and mortality. Because only a small number of studies have been conducted into the long-term effects of ECLS, we investigated the difference in quality of life, anxiety and depressive complaints and PTSD 3 months after ICU discharge.

METHOD

It is a retrospective case-control study covering the period January 2012 to December 2017. The ECLS patient group was compared to a matched similar patient group in the Intensive Care (IC) that did not have ECLS therapy. Quality of life was measured with the Short-Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire, anxiety and depression was measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire and for PTSD the Impact of Events Scale (IES) questionnaire was used, comparing sum scores and cut-off points of scores from both groups.

RESULTS

Included were 19 patients in the ECLS group and 38 in the control group. The mean sum scores on the sub scales of the SF36 questionnaire were the same for both groups. Only the mean score of 66.2 (scale 0-100) on the domain 'general health experience' was statistically significantly different in the ECLS group than in the control group (56.8, p = .02). There was no significant difference between the sum scores of both groups on anxiety and depressive complaints. In the ECLS group 32% of the patients may have a depressive disorder versus 18% from the control group (p = .32). And 26% of the patients from the ECLS group may have an anxiety disorder versus 7% from the control group (p = .51). The incidence of PTSD was 42% in the ECLS group and 24% in the control group (p = .22).

CONCLUSION

We found no statistically significant difference in quality of life, anxiety and depressive symptoms and PTSD symptoms between ECLS patients and the matched control group - 3 months after the ICU discharge. The incidence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and PTSD in the ECLS group is higher than in the control group, however, this difference is not significant.

Sounding the Alarm: What Clinicians Need to Know about Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive Recovery After Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

OBJECTIVE

We summarize the existing data on the occurrence of physical, emotional, and cognitive dysfunction associated with postintensive care syndrome (PICS) in adult survivors of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases were searched.

STUDY SELECTION

Peer-reviewed studies of adults receiving VA-ECMO for any reason with at least one measure of health-related quality of life outcomes or PICS at long-term follow-up of at least 6 months were included.

DATA EXTRACTION

The participant demographics and baseline characteristics, in-hospital outcomes, long-term health outcomes, quality of life outcome measures, and prevalence of PICS were extracted.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Twenty-seven studies met inclusion criteria encompassing 3,271 patients who were treated with VA-ECMO. The studies were limited to single- or two-center studies. Outcomes variables and follow-up time points evaluated were widely heterogeneous which limits comprehensive analysis of PICS after VA-ECMO. In general, the longer-term PICS-related outcomes of survivors of VA-ECMO were worse than the general population, and approaching that of patients with chronic disease. Available studies identified high rates of abnormal 6-minute walk distance, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder that persisted for years. Half or fewer survivors return to work years after discharge. Only 2 of 27 studies examined cognitive outcomes and no studies evaluated cognitive dysfunction within the first year of recovery. No studies evaluated the impact of targeted interventions on these outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Survivors of VA-ECMO represent a population of critically ill patients at high risk for deficits in physical, emotional, and cognitive function related to PICS. This systematic review highlights the alarming reality that PICS and in particular, neurocognitive outcomes, in survivors of VA-ECMO are understudied, underrecognized, and thus likely undertreated. These results underscore the imperative that we look beyond survival to focus on understanding the burden of survivorship with the goal of optimizing recovery and outcomes after these life-saving interventions. Future prospective, multicenter, longitudinal studies in recovery after VA-ECMO are justified.

Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Exacerbations in Hospitalized Patients From Admission to Discharge: A Comprehensive Review of Therapeutic Interventions

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and debilitating condition that often necessitates hospitalization for exacerbations. Since COPD exacerbations can cause significant morbidity and mortality, managing them is crucial for patient care. Effective management of COPD exacerbations is essential to prevent complications, as COPD exacerbations are associated with increased healthcare costs and decreased quality of life. This review aims to comprehensively discuss the management of COPD exacerbations, covering various pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies. These include inhaled bronchodilators, systemic steroids, antibiotics, invasive and non-invasive ventilation, oxygen therapy, smoking cessation, immunization with pneumococcal vaccine, inhalers at discharge, pulmonary rehabilitation, long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), ambulatory oxygen therapy, short-burst oxygen therapy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS), endobronchial procedures, and lung transplant. It is drawn upon various sources, including clinical studies, systemic reviews, and observational studies, to provide a comprehensive overview of current practices and identify areas for future research and innovation in managing COPD exacerbations. Addressing these areas of interest can improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Long-term survival, functional capacity and quality of life after refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest treated with mechanical circulatory support

Introduction

Studies on long-term outcomes after refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) treated with mechanical circulatory support (MCS) are limited. This study aimed to evaluate long-term neurologically intact survival, functional capacity and quality of life after refractory OHCA treated with MCS.

Methods

This was a follow-up study of survivors after refractory OHCA treated with MCS. Follow-up examinations comprised clinical assessment with transthoracic echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX). Neurological and cognitive screening was evaluated with the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA test). A good neurological outcome was defined as CPC 1 or CPC 2. Health-related quality of life was measured by questionnaires (Short Form-36 (SF-36)).

Results

A total of 101 patients with refractory OHCA were treated with MCS at Aarhus University Hospital between 2015 and 2019. The total low-flow time was median 105 min [IQR, 94-123] minutes. The hospital discharge rate was 27%. At a mean follow-up time of 4.8 years ± 1.6 (range 2.8-6.1 years), 21 patients remained alive of whom 15 consented to participate in the present study. Good neurological outcome with CPC 1-2 was found in 93% (14/15) patients. No severe cognitive function was discovered; mean MoCA score of 26.4 ± 3.1. Functional capacity examined by CPX showed acceptable VO2 max values (23.9 ± 6.3 mL/kg/min). Mean SF-36 scores revealed an overall high level of quality of life in long-term survivors.

Conclusions

Long-term survival with a good neurological outcome with functional recovery was high in patients with refractory OHCA treated with MCS. These patients may expect a reasonable quality of life after discharge despite prolonged resuscitation.

Nosocomial Infections in Adult Patients Supported by Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

The use of venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (ECMO) in patients admitted to cardiac intensive care units (CICU) has increased. Data regarding infections in this population are scarce. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the risk factors, outcome, and predictors of in-hospital mortality due to nosocomial infections in patients with ECMO admitted to a single coronary intensive care unit between July 2013 and March 2019 treated with VA-ECMO for >48 h. From 69 patients treated with VA-ECMO >48 h, (median age 58 years), 29 (42.0%) patients developed 34 episodes of infections with an infection rate of 0.92/1000 ECMO days. The most frequent were ventilator-associated pneumonia (57.6%), tracheobronchitis (9.1%), bloodstream infections (9.1%), skin and soft tissue infections (9.1%), and cytomegalovirus reactivation (9.1%). In-hospital mortality was 47.8%, but no association with nosocomial infections was found (p = 0.75). The number of days on ECMO (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01-1.30, p = 0.029) and noninfectious complications were higher in the infected patients (OR: 3.8 95% CI = 1.05-14.1). A higher baseline creatinine value (OR: 8.2 95% CI = 1.12-60.2) and higher blood lactate level at 4 h after ECMO initiation (OR: 2.0 95% CI = 1.23-3.29) were significant and independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusions: Nosocomial infections in medical patients treated with VA-ECMO are very frequent, mostly Gram-negative respiratory infections. Preventive measures could play an important role for these patients.

Pulmonary Protection from Left Ventricular Distension During Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Review and Management Algorithm

The use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in adults for refractory cardiogenic shock has risen exponentially during the prior decade. Although VA-ECMO provides cardiopulmonary support, it can alter left ventricular (LV) loading conditions leading to LV distension, which makes the lungs susceptible to congestion and promotes intracardiac thrombosis. These conditions can be alleviated by pharmacologic and mechanical unloading, but gaps in knowledge remain on optimal timing and methods of this approach. This review provides an overview of the epidemiology of VA-ECMO, describes pathophysiology and methods for monitoring and reducing LV loading and summarizes contemporary studies examining the association between LV unloading and adverse events. We offer a simple protocol for implementing LV unloading during VA-ECMO to provide pulmonary protection and improve outcomes.

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for cardiac support in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients: a case report and review of a multicentre registry

BACKGROUND

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with increased risk of heart failure via multiple mechanisms both in patients with and without access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Limited information is available on outcomes among this population supported on Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA ECMO), a form of temporary mechanical circulatory support.

METHODS

We aimed to assess outcomes and complications among patients with HIV supported on VA ECMO reported to a multicentre registry and present a case report of a 32 year old male requiring VA ECMO for cardiogenic shock as a consequence of his untreated HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). A retrospective analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry data from 1989 to 2019 was performed in HIV patients supported on VA ECMO.

RESULTS

36 HIV positive patients were reported to the ELSO Database who received VA ECMO during the study period with known outcomes. 15 patients (41%) survived to discharge. No significant differences existed between survivors and non-survivors in demographic variables, duration of VA ECMO support or cardiac parameters. Inotrope and/or vasopressor requirement prior to or during VA ECMO support was associated with increased mortality. Survivors were more likely to develop circuit thrombosis. The patient presented was supported on VA ECMO for 14 days and was discharged from hospital day 85.

CONCLUSIONS

A limited number of patients with HIV have been supported with VA ECMO and more data is required to ascertain the indications for ECMO in this population. HIV should not be considered an absolute contraindication to VA ECMO as they may have comparable outcomes to other patient groups requiring VA ECMO support.

The Efficacy of Acute Myocardial Infarction Intensive Care Unit Management with a Collaborative Intensivists and Cardiologists in Japan: A Retrospective Observational Study

Objective Dedicated intensive care unit (ICU) physician staffing is associated with a reduction in ICU mortality rates in general medical and surgical ICUs. However, limited data are available on the role of intensivists in ICU for cardiac disease, especially in Japan. This study investigated the association of collaborative intensivists and cardiologist care with clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) admitted to the ICU. Methods This study analyzed 106 patients admitted to the ICU at Nara Prefecture General Medical Center in Nara, Japan, from April 2017 to April 2019. Eligible patients were divided into either the high-intensity ICU management group (n=51) or the low-intensity ICU management group (n=55). The primary outcome of in-hospital mortality was compared in the two groups. Results The high-intensity ICU group was found to be associated with a lower mortality rate in a multivariate analysis than the low-intensity group [7.8% vs. 16.4%; odds ratio (OR): 0.07; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01-0.54; p=0.01]. There were no significant differences in the length of either the ICU stay or hospital stay or the hospital costs between the two groups. A subgroup analysis revealed that the in-hospital mortality rate was lower in the high-intensity ICU group than in the low-intensity ICU group among patients with Killip class IV (16.7% vs. 34.6%; OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01-0.67; p=0.02). Conclusion The presence of dedicated intensivists in high-intensity ICU collaborating with cardiologists might reduce in-hospital mortality in patients with Killip class IV AMI who require critical care.

Contemporary Management of Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction

Despite an improvement in pharmacological therapies and mechanical reperfusion, the outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is still suboptimal, especially in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). The incidence of CS accounts for 3-15% of AMI cases, with mortality rates of 40% to 50%. In contrast to a large number of trials conducted in patients with AMI without CS, there is limited evidence-based scientific knowledge in the CS setting. Therefore, recommendations and actual treatments are often based on registry data. Similarly, knowledge of the available options in terms of temporary mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices is not equally widespread, leading to an underutilisation or even overutilisation in different regions/countries of these treatment options and nonuniformity in the management of CS. The aim of this article is to provide a critical overview of the available literature on the management of CS as a complication of AMI, summarising the most recent evidence on revascularisation strategies, pharmacological treatments and MCS use.

Association Between Shock Etiology and 5-Year Outcomes After Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

BACKGROUND

Outcomes of patients requiring venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) vary greatly by etiology, but large studies that incorporate the spectrum of shock supported with ECMO are rare.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to describe the etiology-related outcome of patients with shock supported with peripheral VA-ECMO.

METHODS

All consecutive adults with peripheral VA-ECMO between January 2015 and August 2018 at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (Paris, France) were included in this retrospective observational study. The indication for VA-ECMO was cardiogenic shock. Rates of hospital death and neurological, renal, and pulmonary complications were evaluated according to etiology.

RESULTS

Among 1,253 patients, hospital and 5-year survival rates were, respectively, 73.3% and 57.3% for primary graft failure, 58.6% and 54.0% for drug overdose, 53.2% and 45.3% for dilated cardiomyopathy, 51.6% and 50.0% for arrhythmic storm, 46.8% and 38.3% for massive pulmonary embolism, 44.4% and 42.4% for sepsis-induced cardiogenic shock, 37.9% and 32.9% for fulminant myocarditis, 37.3% and 31.5% for acute myocardial infarction, 34.6% and 33.3% for postcardiotomy excluding primary graft failure, 25.7% and 22.8% for other/unknown etiology, and 11.1% and 0.0% for refractory vasoplegia shock. Renal failure requiring hemodialysis developed in 50.0%, neurological complications in 16.0%, and hydrostatic pulmonary edema in 9.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the outcome differs depending on etiology, this difference is related more to the severity of the situation associated with the cause rather than the cause of the shock per se. Survival to 5 years varied by cause, which may reflect the natural course of the chronic disease and illustrates the need for long-term follow-up.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Cardiogenic shock – A Review

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has been used in adult in cardiogenic shock due to myocardial infarction, myocardiopathy, myocarditis, or inability to come off cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) after cardiac surgery.3 ECMO can provide partial or total support, but it is temporary. It is not a definitive treatment but a life support system that allows time for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of the condition that causes heart failure. With high incidence of late stage coronary artery disease and infective myocarditis in India, the usage of ECMO for refractory cardiogenic shock is going to be a promising approach for effective management of refractory heat failure .ECMO has proven to be an effective therapeutic modality in managing cardiovascular collapse as a bridge to recovery or more definitive treatment options.

Central extracorporeal circulatory life support (cECLS) in selected patients with critical cardiogenic shock

Background

Percutaneous extracorporeal life support (pECLS) is increasingly applied in cardiogenic shock (CS) despite a lack of evidence from randomized trials. The in-hospital mortality rate of pECLS still reaches up to 60%, while vascular access site complications remain a shortcoming. Surgical approaches with central cannulation for ECLS (cELCS) have emerged as a bail-out option. To date, no systematic approach exists that allows a definition of inclusion or exclusion criteria for cECLS.

Methods and results

This single-center, retrospective, case-control study includes all patients fulfilling criteria for CS at the West German Heart and Vascular Center Essen/Germany between 2015 and 2020 who underwent cECLS (n = 58), excluding post-cardiotomy patients. Seventeen patients received cECLS (29.3%) as a first-line treatment strategy and 41 patients as a second-line strategy (70.7%). The main complications leading to the use of cECLS as a second-line strategy were limb ischemia (32.8%) and ongoing insufficient hemodynamic support (27.6%). The first-line cECLS cohort showed a 30-day mortality rate of 53.3% that was constant during follow-up. The 30-day mortality rate of secondary cECLS candidates was 69.8% and the rate at 3 and 6 months was 79.1%. Younger patients (<55 years) were more likely to exhibit survival benefit with cECLS (p = 0.043).

Conclusion

Surgical cECLS in CS is a feasible therapy for highly selected patients with hemodynamic instability, vascular complications, or peripheral access site limitations as complementary strategy in experienced centers.

Trends in Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Life Support With and Without an Impella or Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump for Cardiogenic Shock

Background Mechanical circulatory support devices, such as the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and Impella, are often used in patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (VA-ECLS) with cardiogenic shock despite limited supporting clinical trial data. Methods and Results Hospitalizations for cardiogenic shock from 2016 to 2018 were identified from the National Inpatient Sample. Trends in the use of VA-ECLS with and without an IABP or Impella were assessed semiannually. Multivariable logistic regression and general linear regression evaluated the association of Impella and IABP use with in-hospital outcomes. Overall, 12 035 hospitalizations with cardiogenic shock and VA-ECLS were identified, of which 3115 (26%) also received an IABP and 1880 (16%) an Impella. Use of an Impella with VA-ECLS substantially increased from 10% to 18% over this period (P<0.001), whereas an IABP modestly increased from 25% to 26% (P<0.001). In-hospital mortality decreased 54% to 48% for VA-ECLS only, 61% to 58% for VA-ECLS with an Impella, and 54% to 49% for VA-ECLS with an IABP (P<0.001 each). Most (57%) IABPs or Impellas were placed on the same day as VA-ECLS. After adjustment, there were no differences in in-hospital mortality or length of stay with the addition of an IABP or Impella compared with VA-ECLS alone. Conclusions From 2016 to 2018 in the United States, use of an Impella and IABP with VA-ECLS significantly increased. More than half of Impellas and IABPs were placed on the same day as VA-ECLS, and the use of a second mechanical circulatory support device did not impact in-hospital mortality. Further studies are needed to decipher the optimal timing and patient selection for this growing practice.

Time course, factors related to, and prognostic impact of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane flow in cardiogenic shock

AIMS

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is currently one of the most used devices in refractory cardiogenic shock. However, there is a lack of evidence on how to set the 'optimal' flow. We aimed to describe the evolution of VA-ECMO flows in a cardiogenic shock population and determine the risk factors of 'high-ECMO flow'.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A 7 year database of patients supported with VA-ECMO was used. Based on the median flow during the first 48 h of the VA-ECMO run, patients were classified as 'high-flow' or 'low-flow', respectively, when median ECMO flow was ≥3.6 or <3.6 L/min. Outcomes included rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia, ECMO-related complications, days on ECMO, days on mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit and hospitalization lengths of stay, and in-hospital and 60 day mortality. Risk factors of high-ECMO flow were assessed using univariate and multivariate cox regression. The study population included 209 patients on VA-ECMO, median age was 51 (40-59) years, and 78% were males. The most frequent aetiology leading to cardiogenic shock was end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (57%), followed by acute myocardial infarction (23%) and fulminant myocarditis (17%). Among the 209 patients, 105 (50%) were classified as 'high-flow'. This group had a higher rate of ischaemic aetiology (16% vs. 30%, P = 0.023) and was sicker at admission, in terms of worse Simplified Acute Physiology Score II score [40 (26-58) vs. 56 (42-74), P < 0.001], higher lactate [3.6 (2.2-5.8) mmol/L vs. 5.2 (3-9.7) mmol/L, P < 0.001], and higher aspartate aminotransferase [97 (41-375) U/L vs. 309 (85-939) U/L, P < 0.001], among others. The 'low-flow' group had less ventilator-associated pneumonia (40% vs. 59%, P = 0.007) and less days on mechanical ventilation [4 (1.5-7.5) vs. 6 (3-12) days, P = 0.009]. No differences were found in lengths of stay or survival according to the ECMO flow. The multivariate analysis showed that risk factors independently associated with 'high-flow' were mechanical ventilation at cannulation [odds ratio (OR) 3.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1-7.1] and pre-ECMO lactate (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.2).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with refractory cardiogenic shock supported with VA-ECMO, sicker patients had higher support since early phases, presenting thereafter higher rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia but similar survival compared with patients with lower flows.

Association of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation With New Mental Health Diagnoses in Adult Survivors of Critical Illness

IMPORTANCE

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used as temporary cardiorespiratory support in critically ill patients, but little is known regarding long-term psychiatric sequelae among survivors after ECMO.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between ECMO survivorship and postdischarge mental health diagnoses among adult survivors of critical illness.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Population-based retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada, from April 1, 2010, through March 31, 2020. Adult patients (N=4462; age ≥18 years) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and surviving to hospital discharge were included.

EXPOSURES

Receipt of ECMO.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was a new mental health diagnosis (a composite of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder; schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders; other mental health disorders; and social problems) following discharge. There were 8 secondary outcomes including incidence of substance misuse, deliberate self-harm, death by suicide, and individual components of the composite primary outcome. Patients were compared with ICU survivors not receiving ECMO using overlap propensity score-weighted cause-specific proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

Among 642 survivors who received ECMO (mean age, 50.7 years; 40.7% female), median length of follow-up was 730 days; among 3820 matched ICU survivors who did not receive ECMO (mean age, 51.0 years; 40.0% female), median length of follow-up was 1390 days. Incidence of new mental health conditions among survivors who received ECMO was 22.1 per 100-person years (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.5-25.1), and 14.5 per 100-person years (95% CI, 13.8-15.2) among non-ECMO ICU survivors (absolute rate difference of 7.6 per 100-person years [95% CI, 4.7-10.5]). Following propensity weighting, ECMO survivorship was significantly associated with an increased risk of new mental health diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR] 1.24 [95% CI, 1.01-1.52]). There were no significant differences between survivors who received ECMO vs ICU survivors who did not receive ECMO in substance misuse (1.6 [95% CI, 1.1 to 2.4] per 100 person-years vs 1.4 [95% CI, 1.2 to 1.6] per 100 person-years; absolute rate difference, 0.2 per 100 person-years [95% CI, -0.4 to 0.8]; HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.48 to 1.53]) or deliberate self-harm (0.4 [95% CI, 0.2 to 0.9] per 100 person-years vs 0.3 [95% CI, 0.2 to 0.3] per 100 person-years; absolute rate difference, 0.1 per 100 person-years [95% CI, -0.2 to 0.4]; HR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.21 to 2.23]). There were fewer than 5 total cases of death by suicide in the entire cohort.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among adult survivors of critical illness, receipt of ECMO, compared with ICU hospitalization without ECMO, was significantly associated with a modestly increased risk of new mental health diagnosis or social problem diagnosis after discharge. Further research is necessary to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying this relationship.

Long-Term Survival and Quality of Life in Non-Surgical Adult Patients Supported with Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Oxygenation

BACKGROUND

The use of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) for hemodynamic support is on the rise. Not much is known about the impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and its complications on long-term survival and quality of life.

METHODS

In this single-center, cross-sectional study, we evaluated the survival and quality of life in patients treated with VA ECMO between May 2009 and July 2019. Follow-up was conducted between November 2019 and January 2020.

RESULTS

Overall, 118 patients were evaluated in this study. Of the 37 patients who were alive at hospital discharge, 32 answered the EuroQol-5 dimensional-5-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L). For patients discharged alive from the hospital, mean survival was 8.1 years, 8.4 years for cardiogenic shock, and 5.0 years for patients with refractory cardiac arrest. EQ-5D-5L index value of ECMO survivors was not significantly different from the general age-matched population. Neurologic complications and major bleeding during index hospitalization limit long-term quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients treated with VA ECMO have high in-hospital mortality, with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cardio-pulmonary resuscitation patients being at higher risk of early death. However, once discharged from the hospital, most patients remain alive with a reasonable quality of life.

Aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation modify the effect of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on left ventricular function in cardiogenic shock

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is widely used in the treatment of patients experiencing cardiogenic shock (CS). However, increased VA-ECMO blood flow (EBF) may significantly impair left ventricular (LV) performance. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of VA-ECMO on LV function in acute CS with concomitant severe aortic stenosis (AS) or mitral regurgitation (MR) in a porcine model. Eight female swine (45 kg) underwent VA-ECMO implantation under general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation. Acute CS was induced by global myocardial hypoxia. Subsequently, severe AS was simulated by obstruction of the aortic valve, while severe MR was induced by mechanical destruction of the mitral valve. Haemodynamic and LV performance variables were measured at different rates of EBF rates (ranging from 1 to 4 L/min), using arterial and venous catheters, a pulmonary artery catheter, and LV pressure-volume catheter. Data are expressed as median (interquartile range). Myocardial hypoxia resulted in declines in cardiac output to 2.7 (1.9-3.1) L/min and LV ejection fraction to 15.2% (10.5-19.3%). In severe AS, increasing EBF from 1 to 4 L/min was associated with a significant elevation in mean arterial pressure (MAP), from 33.5 (24.2-34.9) to 56.0 (51.9-73.3) mmHg (P ˂ 0.01). However, LV volumes (end-diastolic, end-systolic, stroke) remained unchanged, and LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) significantly decreased from 24.9 (21.2-40.0) to 19.1 (15.2-29.0) mmHg (P ˂ 0.01). In severe MR, increasing EBF resulted in a significant elevation in MAP from 49.0 (28.0-53.4) to 72.5 (51.4-77.1) mmHg (P ˂ 0.01); LV volumes remained stable and LVEDP increased from 17.1 (13.7-19.1) to 20.8 (16.3-25.6) mmHg (P ˂ 0.01). Results of this study indicate that the presence of valvular heart disease may alleviate negative effect of VA-ECMO on LV performance in CS. Severe AS fully protected against LV overload, and partial protection was also detected with severe MR, although at the cost of increased LVEDP and, thus, higher risk for pulmonary oedema.

Outcomes of patients with acute respiratory failure on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation requiring additional circulatory support by veno-venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Objective

Veno-venous (V-V) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly used to support patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In case of additional cardio-circulatory failure, some experienced centers upgrade the V-V ECMO with an additional arterial return cannula (termed V-VA ECMO). Here we analyzed short- and long-term outcome together with potential predictors of mortality.

Design

Multicenter, retrospective analysis between January 2008 and September 2021.

Setting

Three tertiary care ECMO centers in Germany (Hannover, Bonn) and Switzerland (Zurich).

Patients

Seventy-three V-V ECMO patients with ARDS and additional acute cardio-circulatory deterioration required an upgrade to V-VA ECMO were included in this study.

Measurements and main results

Fifty-three patients required an upgrade from V-V to V-VA and 20 patients were directly triple cannulated. Median (Interquartile Range) age was 49 (28–57) years and SOFA score was 14 (12–17) at V-VA ECMO upgrade. Vasoactive-inotropic score decreased from 53 (12–123) at V-VA ECMO upgrade to 9 (3–37) after 24 h of V-VA ECMO support. Weaning from V-VA and V-V ECMO was successful in 47 (64%) and 40 (55%) patients, respectively. Duration of ECMO support was 12 (6–22) days and ICU length of stay was 32 (16–46) days. Overall ICU mortality was 48% and hospital mortality 51%. Two additional patients died after hospital discharge while the remaining patients survived up to two years (with six patients being lost to follow-up). The vast majority of patients was free from higher degree persistent organ dysfunction at follow-up. A SOFA score > 14 and higher lactate concentrations at the day of V-VA upgrade were independent predictors of mortality in the multivariate regression analysis.

Conclusion

In this analysis, the use of V-VA ECMO in patients with ARDS and concomitant cardiocirculatory failure was associated with a hospital survival of about 50%, and most of these patients survived up to 2 years. A SOFA score > 14 and elevated lactate levels at the day of V-VA upgrade predict unfavorable outcome.

Research focus and theme trend on fulminant myocarditis: A bibliometric analysis

Aims

This study intends to explore the research focus and trends of fulminant myocarditis (FM) to have a better understanding of the topic.

Materials and methods

The data were downloaded from the Web of Science (WoS) database using the topic (TS) advanced search strategy. Many instruments were used to extract, analyze, and visualize the data, such as Microsoft Excel, HistCite Pro, GunnMap, BibExcel, and VOSviewer.

Results

From 1985 to 2022, 726 documents were indexed in the WoS. The United States and Columbia University were the most productive country and institutions. Keywords co-occurrence was carried out and four research themes were identified. In addition, the top three prolific authors, the first three highly cited authors, and the core authors of the author co-citation network were identified. The topics that they kept an eye on were analyzed, and the research areas of key authors were similar to the results of keyword co-occurrence. The hot topics of FM were related to the mechanical circulatory support, etiology, diagnosis, and the disease or therapy associated with FM.

Conclusion

This study carried out a systematic analysis of the documents related to FM from 1985 to 2022, which can provide a guideline for researchers to understand the theme trend to promote future research to be carried out.

Phenotypic Heterogeneity of Fulminant COVID-19--Related Myocarditis in Adults

Background

Adults who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 can develop a multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-A), including fulminant myocarditis. Yet, several patients fail to meet MIS-A criteria, suggesting the existence of distinct phenotypes in fulminant COVID-19–related myocarditis.

Objectives

This study sought to compare the characteristics and clinical outcome between patients with fulminant COVID-19–related myocarditis fulfilling MIS-A criteria (MIS-A⁺) or not (MIS-A⁻).

Methods

A monocentric retrospective analysis of consecutive fulminant COVID-19–related myocarditis in a 26-bed intensive care unit (ICU).

Results

Between March 2020 and June 2021, 38 patients required ICU admission (male 66%; mean age 32 ± 15 years) for suspected fulminant COVID-19–related myocarditis. In-ICU treatment for organ failure included dobutamine 79%, norepinephrine 60%, mechanical ventilation 50%, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation 42%, and renal replacement therapy 29%. In-hospital mortality was 13%. Twenty-five patients (66%) met the MIS-A criteria. MIS-A⁻ patients compared with MIS-A⁺ patients were characterized by a shorter delay between COVID-19 symptoms onset and myocarditis, a lower left ventricular ejection fraction, and a higher rate of in-ICU organ failure, and were more likely to require mechanical circulatory support with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (92% vs 16%; P < 0.0001). In-hospital mortality was higher in MIS-A⁻ patients (31% vs 4%). MIS-A⁺ had higher circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-22, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), whereas MIS-A⁻ had higher interferon-α2 (IFN-α2) and IL-8 levels. RNA polymerase III autoantibodies were present in 7 of 13 MIS-A⁻ patients (54%) but in none of the MIS-A⁺ patients.

Conclusion

MIS-A⁺ and MIS-A⁻ fulminant COVID-19–related myocarditis patients have 2 distinct phenotypes with different clinical presentations, prognosis, and immunological profiles. Differentiating these 2 phenotypes is relevant for patients’ management and further understanding of their pathophysiology.

Sixteen-year national trends in use & outcomes of VA-ECMO in cardiogenic shock

There is a lack of data on contemporary trends in the use and outcomes of Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for cardiogenic shock (CS) at a national level. Patients with CS admitted during January 1st, 2002-December 31, 2018, were identified from the United States National Inpatient Sample. Among all patients admitted with CS, those who received VA-ECMO were identified. We report the trends in use and outcomes in terms of mortality, exit strategies and complications among all patients who received VA ECMO for CS. Among a total of approximately 1.6 million patients admitted with CS during the period from January 1st, 2002 to December 31, 2018; 25, 621(1.5 %) received VA-ECMO. There has been a 23-fold increase in the use of VA-ECMO over the study period, from 0.1 % in 2002 to 3 % in 2018, with a simultaneous decreasing trend of in hospital mortality from 77 % in 2002 to 50 % in 2018. Only approximately 15 % of VA-ECMO patients are discharged home with most survivors discharged to a skilled nursing facility or short-term rehabilitation. Moreover, only a minor proportion of patients on VA ECMO are bridged to heart replacement therapy with durable LVAD (6 %) or cardiac transplantation (2.5 %). In conclusion, the use of VA-ECMO in CS has increased 23-fold from January 2002 to December 2018 with a concomitant decrease in mortality from 77 % in 2002 to 50 % in 2018, only a minority of patients on VA-ECMO for CS are bridged to durable LVAD or cardiac transplantation.

Cardiogenic Shock and Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support

Cardiogenic shock is a state of circulatory collapse due to low cardiac output resulting from heart failure. Heart failure in this setting may be due to left, right, or biventricular dysfunction. Acute myocardial infarctions remain the most common cause of cardiogenic shock, although in contemporary patient populations, the increasing prevalence of end-stage heart failure has resulted in a growing population of heart failure cardiogenic shock presentations. Clinicians practicing in the cardiac intensive care unit are challenged with these increasingly complex patients. Such patients often require hemodynamic support to improve end-organ perfusion and reduce mortality. Mechanical devices, collectively known as temporary mechanical circulatory support, provide clinicians with additional tools in our armamentarium to combat the increased mortality associated with cardiogenic shock. In this article, we provide an overview of cardiogenic shock and its phenotypic clinical presentations, in addition to providing a description of temporary mechanical circulatory support devices that are currently utilized in the management of cardiogenic shock.