BackgroundThe rate, prognostic impacts, and predisposing factors of major vascular complications (MVCs) in patients underwent venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) by surgical cut-down are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to identify these parameters in adult VA-ECMO patients.MethodsAdult postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS) patients receiving VA-ECMO by femoral surgical cut-down cannulation from January 2004 to December 2015 were enrolled in this study. Patients were separated into two groups depending on the presence of MVCs. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors independently associated with MVCs.ResultsOf 432 patients with PCS treated with VA-ECMO, 252 patients (58.3%) were weaned off VA-ECMO and 153 patients (35.4%) survived to discharge. MVCs were seen in 72 patients (16.7%), including bleeding or hematoma in the cannulation site (8.6%), limb ischemia requiring fasciotomy (8.6%), femoral artery embolism (0.7%), and retroperitoneal bleeding (0.7%). The rate of survival to discharge was 16.7 and 39.2% in patients with or without MVCs, respectively (p < 0.001). Obesity, concomitant with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score at 24 h post-ECMO, and hemostasis disorder were shown to be associated with MVCs. MVCs were an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality by multivariate analysis (odds ratio 3.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.67–9.14; p = 0.013).ConclusionsMVCs are common and associated with higher in-hospital mortality among adult PCS patients receiving peripheral VA-ECMO support. The obesity, concomitant with IABP, SOFA score at 24 h post-ECMO, and hemostasis disorder were independent risk factor of MVCs.

IntroductionDifferential hypoxia is a pivotal problem in patients with femoral veno-arterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Despite recognition of differential hypoxia and attempts to deliver more oxygenated blood to the upper body, the mechanism of differential hypoxia as well as prevention strategies have not been well investigated.MethodsWe used a sheep model of acute respiratory failure that was supported with femoral VA ECMO from the inferior vena cava to the femoral artery (IVC-FA), ECMO from the superior vena cava to the FA (SVC-FA), ECMO from the IVC to the carotid artery (IVC-CA) and ECMO with an additional return cannula to the internal jugular vein based on the femoral VA ECMO (FA-IJV). Angiography and blood gas analyses were performed.ResultsWith IVC-FA, blood oxygen saturation (SO2) of the IVC (83.6 ± 0.8%) was higher than that of the SVC (40.3 ± 1.0%). Oxygen-rich blood was drained back to the ECMO circuit and poorly oxygenated blood in the SVC entered the right atrium (RA). SVC-FA achieved oxygen-rich blood return from the IVC to the RA without shifting the arterial cannulation. Subsequently, SO2 of the SVC and the pulmonary artery increased (70.4 ± 1.0% and 73.4 ± 1.1%, respectively). Compared with IVC-FA, a lesser difference in venous oxygen return and attenuated differential hypoxia were observed with IVC-CA and FA-IJV.ConclusionsDifferential venous oxygen return is a key factor in the etiology of differential hypoxia in VA ECMO. With knowledge of this mechanism, we can apply better cannula configurations in clinical practice.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-015-0791-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundThe addition of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) during peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) support has been shown to improve coronary bypass graft flows and cardiac function in refractory cardiogenic shock after cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of additional IABP support on the cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with peripheral VA ECMO following cardiac procedures.MethodsTwelve patients (mean age 60.40 ± 9.80 years) received VA ECMO combined with IABP support for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock after coronary artery bypass grafting. The mean CBF in the bilateral middle cerebral arteries was measured with and without IABP counterpulsation by transcranial Doppler. The patients provided their control values. The mean CBF data were divided into two groups (pulsatile pressure greater than 10 mmHg, P group; pulsatile pressure less than 10 mmHg, N group) based on whether the patients experienced cardiac stun. The mean cerebral blood flow in VA ECMO (IABP turned off) alone and VA ECMO with IABP support were compared using the paired t test.ResultsAll of the patients were successfully weaned from VA ECMO, and eight patients survived to discharge. The addition of IABP to VA ECMO did not change the mean CBF (251.47 ± 79.28 ml/min vs. 251.30 ± 79.47 ml/min, P = 0.96). The mean CBF was higher in VA ECMO alone than in VA ECMO combined with IABP support in the N group (257.68 ± 97.21 ml/min vs. 239.47 ± 95.60, P = 0.00). The addition of IABP to VA ECMO support increased the mean CBF values significantly compared with VA ECMO alone (261.68 ± 82.45 ml/min vs. 244.43 ± 45.85 ml/min, P = 0.00) in the P group.ConclusionThese results demonstrate that an IABP significantly changes the CBF during peripheral VA ECMO, depending on the antegrade blood flow by spontaneous cardiac function. The addition of an IABP to VA ECMO support decreased the CBF during cardiac stun, and it increased CBF without cardiac stun.

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is an option for mechanical support for patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS). However, the use of VA-ECMO in patients suffering from aortic disease with PCS has not been greatly reported. This is a retrospective review of adult patients undergoing aortic surgery who received VA-ECMO support to treat refractory PCS from August 2009 to May 2016. A total of 36 patients who underwent aortic surgery with VA-ECMO support for refractory PCS were included. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative variables were assessed and analyzed for possible correlation with in-hospital mortality. After a mean duration of 3.6 ± 2.9 days, 24 patients (67%) were weaned off VA-ECMO, and 18 patients (50%) were discharged from the hospital. The overall in-hospital mortality was 50%. The main cause of death was multiple organ dysfunction. The survivors had a lower level of preoperative creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), a higher rate of antegrade cannulation, and a lower lactate level at 12 h, respectively. Relevant factors for in-hospital mortality were retrograde-flow cannulation (odds ratio [OR], 2.49), peak lactate levels greater than 20 mmol/L (OR, 5.0), and preoperative CK-MB greater than 100 IU/L (OR, 6.40). Antegrade cannulation may provide better perfusion and should be emphasized to improve outcomes. Additionally, levels of peak serum lactate and preoperative CK-MB may be relevant factors for in-hospital mortality in aortic patients with PCS.

Severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) are often associated with a higher mortality. The efficacy and safety of the preoperative prophylactic intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) insertion is not well established. 416 consecutive patients with severe LV dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤35%) undergoing isolated OPCAB were enrolled in a retrospective observational study. 191 patients was enrolled in the IABP group; the remaining 225 patients was in control group. A total of 129 pairs of patients were propensity-score matched. No significant differences in demographic and preoperative risk factors were found between the two groups. The postoperative 30-day mortality occurred more frequently in the control group compared with the IABP group (8.5% vs. 1.6%, p = 0.02). There was a significant reduction of low cardiac output syndrome in the IABP group compared with the control group (14% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.04). Prolonged mechanical ventilation (≥48 h) occurred more frequently in the control group (34.9% vs. 20.9%, p = 0.02). IABP also decreased the postoperative length of stay. Preoperative IABP was associated with a lower 30-day mortality, suggesting that it is effective in patients with severe LV dysfunction undergoing OPCAB.

The immature CD14CD16 monocytes might contribute to blood-circuit contact-induced acute lung injury by generating TNF-α-producing, mature monocytes. New strategies based on monocyte manipulation could be a promising therapeutic approach for minimising CPB-related lung injury.

The urinary trypsin inhibitor (ulinastatin) is used in the clinic to prevent inflammatory responses in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB); however, the anti-inflammatory mechanism is unclear. In the current study, we recruited 40 patients undergoing selective cardiac valve replacement surgery; and these patients were randomly divided into two groups (ulinastatin group [UG] and control group [CG]). We collected peripheral blood preoperatively, at the end of CPB, and postoperative days 1 and 3 and analyzed the kinetic changes in regulatory T (Treg) cell subsets. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of CD4(+) T cells between the two groups. The number of CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells, especially the suppressive activated Treg (aTreg) subset, was higher in the UG than the CG 1 and 3 days postoperatively. Thus, ulinastatin alleviated the inflammatory response during CPB by inducing the expansion of aTreg cells.

Increasing MAP from <60 mmHg to 60-90 mmHg did not affect microcirculation variables in cardiogenic-shock patients with ECMO support.