Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation to Rescue Patients With Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmia in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Prevalence and risk factors for in-hospital mortality of adult patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To synthesize quantitative research findings on the prevalence and risk factors for in-hospital mortality of patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted for the period from May 2008 to December 2023 by searching the five electronic databases of PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane library. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The meta-analysis estimated the pooled odds ratio or standard mean difference and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

A total of twenty-five studies with 10,409 patients were included in the analysis. The overall in-hospital mortality of patients on VA-ECMO was 56.7 %. In the subgroup analysis, in-hospital mortality of VA-ECMO for cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest was 49.2 % and 75.2 %, respectively. The number of significant factors associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality in the pre-ECMO period (age, body weight, creatinine, chronic kidney disease, pH, and lactic acid) was greater than that in the intra- and post-ECMO periods. Renal replacement, bleeding, and lower limb ischemia were the most significant risk factors for in-hospital mortality in patients receiving VA-ECMO.

CONCLUSION

Early detection of the identified risk factors can contribute to reducing in-hospital mortality in patients on VA-ECMO. Intensive care unit nurses should provide timely and appropriate care before, during, and after VA-ECMO.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Intensive care unit nurses should be knowledgeable about factors associated with the in-hospital mortality of patients on VA-ECMO to improve outcomes. The present findings may contribute to developing guidelines for reducing in-hospital mortality among patients considering ECMO.

Brain natriuretic peptide levels predict 6-month mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock who were weaned off extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

There are limited data regarding the association between brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels obtained after weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and the outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS)-associated cardiogenic shock.We prospectively obtained data regarding patients (aged ≥ 19 years) with ACS-associated cardiogenic shock who received ECMO and were subsequently weaned off the treatment. BNP levels were collected at 5 time points: pre-ECMO implantation, post-ECMO implantation, pre-ECMO weaning, day 1 after ECMO weaning, and day 5 after ECMO weaning.Of 48 patients with ACS-related cardiogenic shock, 33 were included in this analysis. Mean patient age was 59.0 (50.0-66.5) years, and 5 patients (15.2%) were women. Eight patients had asystole/pulseless electrical activity before ECMO and 14 (42.4%) had 3-vessel disease on coronary angiography. During the 6-month follow up, 12 (36.4%) patients died. BNP levels after ECMO weaning were significantly different between 6-month survivors and non-survivors. Cox proportional hazards model revealed that BNP levels (tertiles) on days 1 and 5 after ECMO weaning were significantly associated with 6-month mortality (hazard ratio, 7.872; 95% confidence interval, 1.870-32.756; 8.658 and 1.904-39.365, respectively). According to the Kaplan-Meier curves, the first tertile had significantly longer survival compared to the third tertile for both days 1 and 5 after ECMO weaning.Post-ECMO weaning BNP levels (days 1 and 5) were significantly associated with increased 6-month mortality in patients with ACS complicated by refractory cardiogenic shock who were weaned off ECMO.

Extended Indications for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the Operating Room

Background:

The use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for cardiorespiratory support is increasing. Traditional absolute contraindications are currently deemed relative contraindications. Extracorporeal life support is now considered for a wider cohort of patients on a case-by-case basis.

Method:

We performed a review of the literature and examined current Extracorporeal Life Support Organization guidelines that support the use of ECLS in the operating room, based on the underlying pathology and surgical procedure proposed. We discuss specific surgical populations and different modes of ECLS and cannulation strategies.

Results:

Based on the available literature, veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be used for the management of complex tracheobronchial and lung surgery, both in the elective and in the emergent setting. Elective veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO for cardiocirculatory support should be considered in high-risk patients undergoing ventricular tachycardia ablation. Extracorporeal life support should be considered as a potential life-saving intervention in almost all parturients with severe respiratory failure or refractory cardiogenic shock. V-A ECMO should be considered in unanticipated intraoperative cardiac arrest in patients without preexisting end-organ failure.

Conclusion:

As the number of indications for ECLS in the operating room is growing, anesthesiology and surgical staff should become familiar with the perioperative management of patients on ECLS.

ECMO Used in a Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia and Ventricular Fibrillation Patient: A National Case-Control Study

Refractory cardiac arrhythmia, which has a poor response to defibrillation and antiarrhythmia medication, is a complicated problem for clinical physicians during resuscitation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be used to sustain life in this situation. ECMO is useful for cardiopulmonary resuscitation among patients suffering from cardiac arrest; the use of ECMO in this context is called E-cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, a large-scale and nationwide survey of ECMO usage in cases involving refractory cardiac arrhythmia during resuscitation is lacking. We aimed to clarify the characteristics and efficacy of the application of ECMO in cases involving refractory cardiac arrhythmia during resuscitation by conducting a nationwide study. Using national insurance data from 1996 to 2011, 2702 patients who received defibrillation and amiodarone injections were selected. We excluded trauma patients (n = 316) and those aged<20 years (n = 24). A total of 2362 patients were included, 376 of whom had ECMO support, and 1986 of whom had no ECMO support. After propensity score matching, 320 patients had ECMO support and 640 patients without ECMO support. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of death in ECMO users compared to non-EMCO users. ECMO used in refractory cardiac arrhythmia with high propensity score patients had lower risk of death (odds ratio [OR] = 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.36-0.98). However, prolonged ECMO used >1 day was higher risk of death (OR = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.27-6.53). In our retrospective case control study in refractory cardiac arrhythmia patients, ECMO supportive in high propensity score patients showed improving the overall survival rate but ECMO support for >1 day would be harmful. The evidence derived from this retrospective study using data from the national insurance system is generally of lower methodological evidence than that from randomized controlled trials because a retrospective study is subject to many biases due to lack of the necessary adjustments for possible confounding factors. Therefore, further investigation with a randomized clinical trial is needed to recommend ECMO as a routine in this specific population of patients experiencing cardiac arrest and refractory VT and VF.