Background: Even with the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), mortality remains high. Also, prognostication of patients with ARDS and ECMO is difficult. Cytokines are thought to be markers of inflammation in both ARDS and in ECMO, however, understanding is limited. We aimed to study the association of three serum cytokine levels with mortality in these patients with ARDS on ECMO. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of ARDS patients on ECMO between 2011 and 2017. Patients with serum TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-2 measured while on ECMO were included, with measurements recorded weekly up to a maximum of 4 measurements. A multivariable regression analysis was performed and generalizing estimating equations were used to analyze longitudinal trend of cytokines with mortality. Results: There were 47 patients with ARDS on ECMO, of which 31 (68.9%) survived at 30 days and 2 were lost to follow up. Initial IL-2 levels were found to be significantly higher among those who were alive compared to those who died at 30 days (2720 ± 2432 pg/ml vs. 1293 ± 693 pg/ml); p = 0.0460. At any given time, an increase in IL-2 was associated with a decrease in odds of death at 30 days (adjusted odds ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.97 -0.99, p = 0.08). There was no significant difference in average or initial levels of TNF-α and IL-6 among those who were alive vs. those who died at 30 days. There was no association between either of these cytokine levels with death while on ECMO. Conclusions: Higher levels of cytokine IL-2 were associated with How to cite this paper: lower 30-day mortality. Further studies are needed to elucidate the pathobiology of cytokines while on ECMO and their use in predicting outcomes.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is commonly used for refractory cardiac or respiratory failure. There are reported cases of successful use of ECMO in patients with septic shock; however, there is a lack of evidence to prove its overall efficacy. Thus, we conducted this study to analyze the relationship between sepsis and ECMO in our own patients. METHODS: 305 patients who were placed on ECMO between 2010 and 2020 were identified within an IRB-approved database. Their clinical outcomes were analyzed with a specific focus on patients who were septic before and after ECMO, defined as a positive blood culture. Group S was composed of patients who were septic before or during ECMO. Group N was all patients who were non-septic before and during ECMO. The primary outcomes compared between groups were ECMO survival and 30-day post-ECMO survival. RESULTS: Among the 305 patients on ECMO, 58 (19%) were in Group S and 247 (81%) were in Group N. ECMO survival rates were 45% in group S and 62% in Group N (p¼0.017). The 30-day survival rates were 36% and 47%, respectively (p¼0.12) CONCLUSIONS: Of our 305 patients, patients who were septic upon ECMO placement or those who developed sepsis during ECMO had worse ECMO survival rates than non-septic patients. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Ultimately, patients who are septic or have a high probability of becoming septic may not be indicated for ECMO placement, and cautious administration of ECMO to these patients may be necessary.
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) may assist in the prevention of volutrauma for high-risk patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO). In combined VV ECMO and HFOV, we noted that increased intrathoracic pressure contributed to shunt formation in the dual-lumen Avalon® cannula (Maquet, Rastatt, Germany).
A 51-year-old female with ARDS secondary to aspiration pneumonia was placed on VV ECMO using a single Avalon cannula. By ECMO Day 16, she became unable to ventilate due to elevated peak airway pressures, even with low tidal volume ventilation and an otherwise stable VV ECMO course. HFOV was introduced to minimize ventilator-induced lung injury. Shortly after HFOV started, the patient desaturated, and consequently, the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO
2
) was increased to 100%. We noted that a flash of bright red, oxygenated blood was flowing retrograde in the Avalon cannula at the same rate as the beat of the oscillator, while the patient's ECMO flow rate, arterial blood gas, and blood pressure all remained stable. The ECMO flow was increased above 5.5 L/min and the resolution of the retrograde shunt through the Avalon cannula was immediately observed.
Concurrent use of HFOV with VV ECMO using an Avalon cannula may result in a shunt that becomes visible with arterial O
2
saturations nearing 100%. Due to pressure differences between the venous and arterial lumens of the Avalon cannula, increasing the ECMO flow rate appeared to decrease this shunting effect caused by elevated intrathoracic pressure.
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