Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support during lung volume reduction surgery for a severe respiratory failure patient with emphysema

Lung volume reduction surgery in hypercapnic patients: a single-center experience from China

Background

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has shown early promise as a palliative therapy in severe emphysema, but with a controversy over its indications. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients with hypercapnia should be excluded from LVRS.

Methods

Total 15 cases of severe emphysema with the level of PaCO₂ exceeding 50 mmHg were retrospectively studied. Their basic characteristics, pulmonary function, preoperative and postoperative PaCO₂ level as well as postoperative complications were calculated statistically.

Results

All of the 15 patients received video-assisted thoracoscopic LVRS and finally discharged uneventfully from hospital after the surgical procedures. Nine cases were supported by mechanical ventilation after surgery with the median duration of 44 hours. One of them was treated by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) both during surgery and the first 4 days after surgery. The result of blood gas analysis on 3 months after hospital discharge decreased than that before surgery (60.07 vs. 55.61 mmHg, P=0.076), but without statistical significance.

Conclusions

The emphysematous patients with hypercapnia should not be excluded from the benefits of LVRS.

Principles and indications of extracorporeal life support in general thoracic surgery

The role of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has expanded rapidly over the past 15 years to become an important tool in advanced general thoracic surgery practice. Intra-operative and in some cases continued post-operative ECLS is redefining the scope of complex surgical care. ECLS encompasses a spectrum of temporary mechanical support that may remove CO₂, oxygenate or provide hemodynamic support or a combination thereof. The most common modalities used in general thoracic surgery include extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), interventional lung assist device (iLA^® Novalung^®, Heilbronn, Germany), and extracorporeal CO₂ removal (ECCO₂R). The ECMO and Novalung^® devices can be used in different modes for the short term or long-term support depending on the situation. In this review, the principles and current applications of ECLS in general thoracic surgery are presented.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a rescue measure after thoracic surgery

Background

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is used for many different conditions including respiratory distress, cardiogenic shock, and trauma. In these patient groups, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has been extensively studied. Recently, it has been used as a rescue measure in patients experiencing acute respiratory distress after thoracic surgery. The goal of our study was to examine the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a rescue measure after thoracic surgery at a single center.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after thoracic surgery at the University of Kentucky from January 9, 2012 to January 9, 2017. Eight patients were identified.

Results

The average time on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was 9.125 days, and the average hospital stay was 65.125 days. Of the 8 patients placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, 3 survived to discharge. Of the 3 patients who survived to discharge, 1 died within 6 months and 2 have been followed up for less than 4 months. The average total charge per patient was calculated to be $1,053,551, and the average charge per day was $16,177. The contribution margin was $109,200 per case.

Conclusions

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a tool that saves lives in many different patient populations but it does not appear to be as effective in patients experiencing acute respiratory distress syndrome after thoracic surgery. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in this group also uses a tremendous amount of hospital resources.