A case of severe respiratory failure due to interstitial pneumonia successfully bridged to lung transplantation from a brain-dead donor using 109-day veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

In Japan, successful cases of a bridge to lung transplantation (BTT) by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are rare. We present the case of a man in his thirties, diagnosed with interstitial pneumonia 6 years prior and registered for lung transplant 1 year prior due to disease progression despite treatment. Due to the patient's worsening respiratory failure, he was transferred to our hospital for BTT by ECMO. Since long-term management was expected and pulmonary hypertension was present, veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO was conducted using the right atrial blood outflow via the right internal jugular vein and right axillary artery inflow via a vascular graft. After tracheostomy, he was managed as "Awake ECMO". In addition, interprofessional collaboration such as physiotherapist rehabilitation, nurses, and liaison teams prevented muscle weakness and supported the mental aspect. We were able to minimize complications such as severe infections and bleeding. A compatible brain-dead donor was found on day 108 after introducing ECMO, and the patient was transferred to a transplant facility on day 109. The peripheral upper V-A ECMO is one of the configurations suitable for long-term BTT management.

Awake venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory cardiogenic shock

BACKGROUND 

Venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is currently one of the first-line therapies for refractory cardiogenic shock (CS), but its applicability is undermined by the high morbidity associated with its complications, especially those related to mechanical ventilation (MV). We aimed to assess the prognostic impact of keeping patients in refractory CS awake at cannulation and during the VA-ECMO run.

METHODS 

A 7-year database of patients given peripheral VA-ECMO support was used to conduct a propensity-score (PS)-matched analysis to balance their clinical profiles. Patients were classified as 'awake ECMO' or 'non-awake ECMO', respectively, if invasive MV was used during ≤50% or >50% of the VA-ECMO run. Primary outcomes included ventilator-associated pneumonia and ECMO-related complication rates, and secondary outcomes were 60-day and 1-year mortality. A multivariate logistic-regression analysis was used to identify whether MV at cannulation was independently associated with 60-day mortality.

RESULTS 

Among 231 patients included, 91 (39%) were 'awake' and 140 (61%) 'non-awake'. After PS-matching adjustment, the 'awake ECMO' group had significantly lower rates of pneumonia (35% vs. 59%, P = 0.017), tracheostomy, renal replacement therapy, and less antibiotic and sedative consumption. This strategy was also associated with reduced 60-day (20% vs. 41%, P = 0.018) and 1-year mortality rates (31% vs. 54%, P = 0.021) compared to the 'non-awake' group, respectively. Lastly, MV at ECMO cannulation was independently associated with 60-day mortality.

CONCLUSION 

An 'awake ECMO' management in VA-ECMO-supported CS patients is feasible, safe, and associated with improved short- and long-term outcomes.

A case of broncho-cutaneous fistula secondary to tuberculosis successfully managed with awake veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

A broncho-cutaneous fistula (BCF) is a communicating tract between the bronchus and the cutaneous surface of the thoracic wall and can be the primary presenting sign of several disease processes. It has been associated with positive pressure ventilation (PPV), post pneumonectomy, thoracostomy tubes, perforating chest trauma, neoplasia and chronic empyema. We report a case of a 45-year-old immunocompetent man presenting with severe hypercapnic respiratory failure secondary to a BCF as a result of tuberculosis (TB)-related empyema necessitans. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) was employed during spontaneous breathing to mitigate the risks of PPV, to facilitate diagnostics and enable targeted treatment. Awake VV ECMO is an effective supportive therapy for complex, destructive lung pathologies with a known reversible aetiology in which PPV would be potentially detrimental.

Awake ECMO and mobilizing patients on ECMO

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a lifesaving technology in critically ill patients who present with cardiac/pulmonary/combined cardiopulmonary failure. These patients are the sickest of all patients in any critical care unit and will invariably have a prolonged course and rehabilitation. Spontaneous breathing and early mobilization can reduce the intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness, improve functional recovery, and reduce superadded infections and length of stay in the hospital, thus decreasing the cost of treatment. In low socioeconomic countries, there is an associated challenge of the availability of specially trained personnel necessary to manage patients on ECMO. Managing and ambulating an awake patient on ECMO is very labour-intensive and poses various challenges. Every ECMO program should aim to develop goals, methods, and protocols to this end. These can be derived from best practices worldwide by suitably adapting to available personnel and equipment. In this review, we aim to highlight the advantages and associated challenges of awake ECMO and describe protocols to aid safe ambulation and physiotherapy for ECMO patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-020-01075-z.

Mid-term results of bilateral lung transplant with postoperatively extended intraoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe pulmonary hypertension

OBJECTIVES

In severe pulmonary hypertension, diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle causes significant morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation, which may be successfully reversed using a protocol based on perioperative veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and early extubation. Here, we present echocardiographic data and mid-term outcomes.

METHODS

The records of lung transplanted patients at our institution between May 2010 and January 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Echocardiography data were collected preoperatively, at discharge, 3 and 12 months after transplantation.

RESULTS

During the study period, 717 patients underwent lung transplantation at our institution, 38 (5%) patients being transplanted for severe pulmonary hypertension. All patients underwent bilateral lung transplantation on veno-arterial ECMO cannulated in the groin, through a sternum sparing thoracotomy in 36 (95%) patients. Extubation was performed early, after a median of 2 days, and awake ECMO was extended for at least 5 days after transplantation. The survival at 3 months, 1 year and 5 years was not different in comparison to patients transplanted for other underlying diseases ( P  = 0.45). At 1 year, tricuspid valve regurgitation had disappeared in all patients. The median of the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension improved from 40 (32-44) mm preoperatively to 45 (44-47) mm at 12 months after lung transplantation ( P  < 0.05). The median of the proximal right ventricular outflow diameter decreased to 25 (23-27) mm after 12 months, compared to 48 (43-51) mm preoperatively ( P  < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The routine application of a prophylactic postoperative veno-arterial ECMO protocol in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension undergoing lung transplantation decreases postoperative mortality and favours achievement of normal cardiac function after 1 year.