Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a breakthrough for respiratory failure

Surgical experience of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for neonates with severe respiratory failure

OBJECTIVE

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been increasingly used for severe neonatal respiratory failure refractory to conventional treatments. This paper summarizes our operation experience of neonatal ECMO via cannulation of the internal jugular vein and carotid artery.

METHODS

The clinical data of 12 neonates with severe respiratory failure who underwent ECMO via the internal jugular vein and carotid artery in our hospital from January 2021 to October 2022 were collected.

RESULTS

All neonates were successfully operated on. The size of arterial intubation was 8 F, and the size of venous intubation was 10 F. The operation time was 29 (22-40) minutes. ECMO was successfully removed in 8 neonates. Surgeons successfully reconstructed the internal jugular vein and carotid artery of these neonates. Arterial blood flow was unobstructed in 5 patients, mild stenosis was present in 2 patients, and moderate stenosis was present in 1 patient. Venous blood flow was unobstructed in 6 patients, mild stenosis was present in 1 patient, and moderate stenosis was present in 1 patient. The complications were as follows: 1 case had poor neck incision healing after ECMO removal. No complications, such as incisional bleeding, incisional infection, catheter-related blood infection, cannulation accidentally pulling away, vascular laceration, thrombosis, cerebral haemorrhage, cerebral infarction, or haemolysis, occurred in any of the patients.

CONCLUSION

Cannulation of the internal jugular vein and carotid artery can quickly establish effective ECMO access for neonates with severe respiratory failure. Careful, skilled and delicate operation was essential. In addition, during the cannulation process, we should pay special attention to the position of cannulation, firm fixation and strict aseptic operation.

A review on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and kidney injury

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is inevitable external life support in case of cardiac and respiratory failure since the 1970s. Acute kidney injury (AKI) and the requirement of renal replacement therapy (RRT) is a potential risk among these patients. This review aims to give an overview of the risk of AKI, RRT, and associated mortality among the patients who received ECMO for any of its indications. PubMed database was searched to find the relevant literature and the reference list of included studies was also searched for additional studies. The incidence of AKI ranged from 30% to 78% and RRT from 47% to 60% in ECMO patients. The pathophysiology of AKI in ECMO is multifactorial, and includes ischaemia, RBCs breakdown, comorbidity, conversion of zymogen form of pro-inflammatory mediators, structural alteration of the kidney, coadministration of nephrotoxic drugs, coagulation abnormality, and oxidative stress. ECMO was associated with the higher incidence of renal abnormalities, AKI, requirement of RRT, and associated mortality. Patients who underwent RRT had improved renal function and reduced overall mortality compared to the non-RRT group among the ECMO patients. Currently, there is no consensus evidence to support the superior use of the inline hemofilter system over continuous renal replacement therapy among patients who had AKI during ECMO.

Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Pneumocystis Pneumonia of an Infant with AIDS

Pneumocystis pneumonia is a common complication of cellular immunosuppression and may trigger severe pulmonary complications. Rapid onset of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is possible in infants infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We report here the case of a 13-week-old girl who was previously healthy presenting with altered immunity and refractory acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) initially attributed to bacterial pneumonia. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) was initiated because her condition was poor. An HIV infection was later fortuitously diagnosed after accidental exposure of a nurse to the child's urine. The mother had congenitally transmitted HIV to the child after late (undetected) infection during pregnancy. The lung lesions were finally attributed to Pneumocystis pneumonia. We prescribed combined antiretroviral, antibiotic, and steroid therapy aimed at preventing immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. VV-ECMO weaning progressed over 30 days to the time of decannulation, rapidly followed by extubation and hospital discharge. The case highlights the fact that rare curable causes of refractory pediatric ARDS should always be investigated early. VV-ECMO should not be excluded as an ARDS treatment for immunocompromised children.

Complications and mortality of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the treatment of neonatal respiratory failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been increasingly used for severe neonatal respiratory failure refractory to conventional treatments. To systematically evaluate the complications and mortality of venovenous ECMO (VV ECMO) in the treatment of neonatal respiratory failure, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all the related studies.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched. The retrieval period was from the establishment of the database to February 2019. Two investigators independently screened articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of article was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). The meta-analysis was performed by Stata 15.0 software.

Results

Four observational studies were included, with a total of 347 newborns. VV ECMO was used for neonates with refractory respiratory failure unresponsive to maximal medical therapy. Median ages of the newborns at cannulation were 43.2 h, 23 h, 19 h, and 71 h in the included four studies, respectively. The overall mortality at hospital charge was 12% (5–18%) with a heterogeneity of I² = 73.8% (p = 0.01). Two studies reported mortality during ECMO and after decannulation, with 10% (0.8–19.2%) and 6.1% (2.6–9.6%), respectively. The most common complications associated with VV ECMO were: pneumothorax (20.6%), hypertension (20.4%), cannula dysfunction (20.2%), seizure (14.9%), renal failure requiring hemofiltration (14.7%), infectious complications (10.3%), thrombi (7.4%), intracranial hemorrhage or infarction (6.6%), hemolysis (5.3%), cannula site bleeding (4.4%), gastrointestinal bleeding (3.7%), oxygenator failure (2.8%), other bleeding events (2.8%), brain death (1.9%), and myocardial stun (0.9%).

Conclusion

The overall mortality at discharge of VV ECMO in the treatment of neonatal respiratory failure was 12%. Although complications are frequent, the survival rate during hospitalization is still high. Further larger samples, and higher quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to clarify the efficacy and safety of this technique in the treatment of neonatal respiratory failure.

Acquired Immunodeficiency from Maternal Chemotherapy and Severe Primary Pneumocystis Infection in an Infant

Pneumocystis jirovecii is recognized as an opportunistic pathogen in immunosuppressed patients. We report a case of severe Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in an infant with acquired combined immunodeficiency secondary to maternal chemotherapy exposure during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The infant required cardiorespiratory support with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) for severe respiratory failure. This case highlights the potential for severe acquired immunodeficiency in this patient cohort and further postnatal surveillance is highly recommended.

A skills acquisition study on ECMOjo: a screen-based simulator for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

BACKGROUND

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation relies heavily on didactic teaching, emphasizing on essential cognitive skills, but overlooking core behavioral skills such as leadership and communication. Therefore, simulation-based training has been adopted to instill clinical knowledge through immersive experiences. Despite simulation-based training's effectiveness, training opportunities are lessened due to high costs. This is where screen-based simulators come into the scene as affordable and realistic alternatives.

AIM

This article evaluates the educational efficacy of ECMOjo, an open-source screen-based extracorporeal membrane oxygenation simulator that aims to replace extracorporeal membrane oxygenation didactic instruction in an interactive and cost-effective manner.

METHOD

A prospective cohort skills acquisition study was carried out. A total of 44 participants were pre-assessed, divided into two groups, where the first group received traditional didactic teaching, and the second used ECMOjo. Participants were then evaluated through a wet lab assessment and two questionnaires.

RESULTS

The obtained results indicate that the two assessed groups show no statistically significant differences in knowledge and efficacy. Hence, ECMOjo is considered an alternative to didactic teaching as per the learning outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The present findings show no significant dissimilarities between ECMOjo and didactic classroom-based teaching. Both methods are very comparable in terms of the learner's reported self-efficacy and complementary to mannequin-based simulations.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation simulation-based training: methods, drawbacks and a novel solution

Introduction:

Patients under the error-prone and complication-burdened extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are looked after by a highly trained, multidisciplinary team. Simulation-based training (SBT) affords ECMO centers the opportunity to equip practitioners with the technical dexterity required to manage emergencies. The aim of this article is to review ECMO SBT activities and technology followed by a novel solution to current challenges.

ECMO simulation:

The commonly-used simulation approach is easy-to-build as it requires a functioning ECMO machine and an altered circuit. Complications are simulated through manual circuit manipulations. However, scenario diversity is limited and often lacks physiological and/or mechanical authenticity. It is also expensive to continuously operate due to the consumption of highly specialized equipment.

Technological aid:

Commercial extensions can be added to enable remote control and to automate circuit manipulation, but do not improve on the realism or cost-effectiveness.

A modular ECMO simulator:

To address those drawbacks, we are developing a standalone modular ECMO simulator that employs affordable technology for high-fidelity simulation.

Health-related quality of life in children born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

METHODS

Between 1993 and 2003, a total of 102 children born with CDH were treated at Astrid Lindgren Children's hospital in Stockholm. In 2012, long-term survivors (n = 77) were asked to participate in the present study, which resulted in a 46% (n = 35) response rate. The KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire was used for measuring HRQoL and a detailed review of medical records was performed.

RESULTS

The study participants did not differ from the non-participants in terms of prenatal diagnosis, gender, side of lesion, method of surgical repair, time to intubation, need for ECMO support, or way of discharge from the hospital. Children born with CDH considered themselves to have a good HRQoL, as good as healthy Swedish children. There were only a few significant HRQoL differences within the group of children with CDH, although several median scores in ECMO-treated patients were somewhat lower. Correlations between child and parent scores on HRQoL were low.

CONCLUSIONS

Health-related quality of life in children born with CDH is good overall, however, a correlation between the severity of the malformation and HRQoL cannot be excluded.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during pregnancy and postpartum

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can provide respiratory support (VV-ECMO) or both respiratory and circulatory support (VA-ECMO). The use of ECMO has increased dramatically as a result of simpler technology. No level I evidence is yet available reflecting improved outcomes with ECMO. The use of this technology during pregnancy may be indicated in very select cases and should be delivered in centers with dedicated ECMO specialized units.

Investigation of the influence of fluid dynamics on thrombus growth at the interface between a connector and tube

Thrombus formation at the interface between connectors and tubes is a potential risk factor for complications. We investigated time-dependent relationships between formation of thrombus and hemodynamic factors at the interface between connectors and tubes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) under pulsatile flow. A swept-source OCT with the center wavelength of 1330 nm was employed. The sequential process of thrombus formation at the interface of connectors and tubes in the inlet and outlet was investigated. Connectors with and without tapers were tested using identical 50-ml air-contactless circuits. Fresh human blood from healthy volunteers was circulated under pulsatile flow. Thrombus initially formed at the interface between the connector tip and the tube. Geometries of thrombus growth were different between the 2 connectors, and between the inlet and the outlet. Growth of thrombus was observed at the interface between the connectors and tubes over time in 60 min circulation, except at the outlet part of connector without tapers. At the connector without tapers outlet, thrombus propagation length from the connector edge toward the flow downstream was comparable at 10 and 60 min (0.55 ± 0.35 vs. 0.51 ± 0.32 mm, p = 0.83). Analysis using particle image velocimetry showed the presence of a flow reattachment point 1.5 mm downstream from the connector edge. These results suggest that the flow reattachment point inhibits downstream thrombus growth. We quantitatively demonstrated sequential thrombus process at the interface between the connectors and tubes under pulsatile flow of human blood using OCT.

The use of ECMO for gastroschisis and omphalocele: Two decades of experience

PURPOSE

The aim was to review the respiratory failure causes and outcomes of infants with omphalocele or gastroschisis receiving ECMO and reported to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO).

METHODS

Gastroschisis and omphalocele infants supported with ECMO and reported to the ELSO Registry between 1992 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical variables, diagnosis of respiratory failure (pulmonary hypertension (PHN), congenital heart defects (CHD), congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), and sepsis), and outcomes were recorded. Univariate analysis was performed using Student's t-test for continuous or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables.

RESULTS

Fifty-two infants with gastroschisis (41) (79%) or omphalocele (11) (21%) were identified. The survival to discharge rate of 51% for gastroschisis remained stable and was significantly higher (P=0.05). The overall mortality rate for omphalocele was 82%. Omphalocele had significantly more PHN (P<0.01), CDH (P<0.01), and multiple anomalies (P=0.04) had significantly more sepsis (P=0.02), and none had a CDH.

CONCLUSION

Infants with gastroschisis requiring ECMO support have significantly better survival than omphaloceles, and respiratory failure is significantly associated with sepsis. The majority of omphalocele infants die despite ECMO, and respiratory failure is associated PHN and CDH. The association of omphalocele, PHN, and CDH merits further investigation.

STUDY TYPE AND EVIDENCE LEVEL

Retrospective comparative study of Registry Database, Level 3.

[Apnea test for assessment of brain death under extracorporeal life support]

BACKGROUND

The fourth edition of the German guideline for the assessment of brain death, published in 2015 by the German Medical Council (Bundesärztekammer), emphasizes the importance of an apnea test. It is also now required under all circumstances of extracorporeal life support.

OBJECTIVES

This article is an instruction for the guideline-conforming performance of an apnea test in general and also in cases of extracorporeal life support in different configurations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature review was performed.

CONCLUSIONS

The apnea test is an essential part of the bedside examination for the clinical diagnosis of brain death. It is required for all kinds of extracorporeal life support and can be easily performed without endangering the patient. More accurate recommendations for its performance should be considered for the next version of the German guideline for brain death assessment.

Severe Pneumonia Caused by Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Successfully Managed with Extracorporeal Life Support in a Comorbid Former Preterm Infant

Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is a global health burden, leading to significant pediatric morbidity and mortality. Prematurity, young age and comorbidities are important risk factors for unfavorable outcomes. Preventive strategies, such as healthcare workers and household contacts vaccination as well as the implementation of infection control practices during the epidemic season, are crucial to protect the most vulnerable populations. Early diagnosis, timely administration of antiviral drugs and supportive therapy are crucial to lead to a complete recovery. When conventional treatment fails, extracorporeal life support (ECLS) may be employed. In neonates and young infants, this high-tech support is burdened by specific technical complexity. Despite the potential risks related to this aggressive approach, ECLS is a life-saving procedure in 65% of pediatric viral pneumonia and in 73% of sepsis cases. Here, we report the successful outcome of a 51-day formerly preterm infant, suffering from a surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), complicated with hospital-acquired pneumonia due to influenza A (H1N1) virus. She developed a severe respiratory failure, unresponsive to conventional therapy, and successfully treated with ECLS. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the use of ECLS in a formerly preterm infant, suffering from NEC complicated by influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.