OBJECTIVES: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become an essential life-saving tool. Being resource-intensive, judicious use and optimising the outcomes of this precious resource is important. This retrospective, explanatory, observational study aimed to quantify associations between factors and outcome after pulmonary ECMO in children.METHODS: This study included 39 consecutive ECMO runs in 38 children performed for pulmonary indications at our hospital from 2008 to 2018. Indications included acute respiratory distress syndrome, infection, drowning, meconium aspiration and pulmonary hypertension, among others. Depending on the need for haemodynamic support, 21 patients (53.8%) received veno-venous ECMO, while 18 (46.2%) received veno-arterial ECMO. We sought to compare the 11 non-survivors with the 27 survivors with respect to time-independent and time-dependent variables. Logistic regression models and Cox proportional hazards models were used. Threshold analysis was done using the "minimum p-value approach". RESULTS: 27/39 (69%) ECMO runs could be weaned; 27/38 (71%) patients were discharged. 20/27 (74%) survivors had unremarkable neurological status, six (22%) had mild findings (convulsions, muscular hypotony, neuropathy) and one (4%) had a hemi-syndrome at discharge. Univariate analyses showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.48 for log(pH) (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22 to 1.02, p = 0.055) and an HR of 4.48 for log(lactate) (95% CI 1.92 to 10.48, p = 0.0005). Multivariate models showed an HR of 0.99 for log(pH) (95% CI 0.43 to 2.26, p = 0.98) and an HR of 4.44 for log(lactate) (95% CI 1.65 to 11.95, p = 0.003). Threshold analysis showed lactate >4.1 to be associated with mortality, with an HR of 32.7 (95% CI 4.8 to 221.7, p = 0.0002). This threshold should, however, be interpret-ed very cautiously. Evidence of an association between serum lactate at 24 hours and mortality was found (difference between survivors and non-survivors: −2.78, 95% CI −5.36 to −0.20, p = 0.037).
CONCLUSIONS:The results of ECMO for pulmonary indications are very good. Serum lactate may be an early prognostic indicator.
The optimal management of pulmonary atresia with an intact ventricular septum in the neonate remains controversial. The introduction of balloon septostomy and prostaglandin has significantly reduced early mortality but early surgical intervention is necessary to obtain a more adequate pulmonary blood flow. Fourteen neonates with pulmonary atresia and an intact ventricular septum were admitted to the Wessex Cardiothoracic Unit, Southampton from 1979 to 1986. Thirteen patients underwent cardiac catheterization. Cardiac catheterization data and right ventricular angiograms were reviewed retrospectively. Four patients with tripartite ventricles underwent total repair. The others received various palliative operations (valvotomy + modified Blalock-Taussig shunt or modified Blalock-Taussig shunt alone). Retrospective analysis of the angiograms indicated that right ventricular morphology alone is not a satisfactory criterion for surgical management. We have been able to demonstrate that there is a good correlation between the diameter of the tricuspid valve and the diameter of the infundibulum and that successful neonatal repair is possible when the tricuspid valve diameter is above 80% of the normal value for weight and when the tricuspid valve diameter to infundibular diameter ratio (TV/Inf ratio) is 2.2 or less. In patients with a tripartite ventricle but inadequate TV diameter and TV/Inf ratio, a closed pulmonary valvotomy with a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt remains the treatment of choice.
Objective:
Limitations of current VAD for smaller children with HF include use of para-corporeal device, high stroke risk and lack of portability precluding hospital discharge. We report our experience with smallest Jarvik LVAD prototype highlighting the evolution of this device.
Methods:
A 14-months-old child, weighting 5.6 Kg with DCM and mid-aortic syndrome and a 3 years-old baby, weighting 11 Kg with DCM underwent off-label Jarvik LVAD prototype implantation.
Results:
Patient 1. After 123 days of Berlin Heart EXCOR LVAD (10 ml) support, the patient developed mediastinitis. He underwent device removal and Levitronix LVAD implantation. After 25 days, we implanted Infant Jarvik 2000. On 13th post-operative day, for a suddenly pump electric blackout, he underwent urgently VA ECMO support and 12 days later, for infection recovery, a new 10ccml BH EXCOR LVAD was implanted. After 17 days of support, he was successfully transplanted and survived to hospital discharge. Patient 2. This child was supported for 166 days with a BH EXCOR LVAD, which was explanted for LV recovery. After 6 days, he developed recurrency of severe HF, needing new LVAD. Because of abdominal cannula site infection, he underwent Infant Jarvik 2015 prototype implantation. Actually, after 3 months of support, is still awaiting heart transplantation.
Conclusion:
Our pioneering experience showed the feasibility of new smallest Jarvik LVAD and could be considered in future as alternative therapeutic option for LVAD support even in low-weight patients. Further study and larger cohort of patients are necessary to confirm the safety of this new device.
Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) is frequently used in children with and without congenital heart disease (CHD). This study, of a single-center and retrospective design, evaluated the use and timing of V-A ECMO in a pediatric cohort who underwent V-A ECMO implantation between January 2009 and December 2019. The patients were divided into a pre-/non-surgical group and a post-surgical group. Among the investigated variables were age, gender, weight, duration of ECMO, ECMO indication, and ventricular physiology, with only the latter being statistically relevant between the two groups. A total of 111 children (58 male/53 female), with a median age of 87 days (IQR: 7–623) were supported using V-A ECMO. The pre-/non-surgical group consisted of 59 patients and the post-surgical group of 52 patients. Survival at discharge was 49% for the pre-/non-surgical group and 21% for the surgical group (p = 0.04). Single-ventricle physiology was significant for a worse outcome (p = 0.0193). Heart anatomy still has the biggest role in the outcomes of children on ECMO. Nevertheless, children with CHD can be successfully bridged with ECMO to cardiac operation.
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