The FRANCE TAVI registry provided reassuring data regarding trends in TAVR performance in an all-comers population on a national scale. Nonetheless, given that TAVR indications are likely to expand to patients at lower surgical risk, concerns remain regarding potentially life-threatening complications and pacemaker implantation. (Registry of Aortic Valve Bioprostheses Established by Catheter [FRANCE TAVI]; NCT01777828).

The development of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technology allows a new approach for the intensive care management of acute cardiac and/or respiratory failure in adult patients who are not responsive to conventional treatment. Current ECMO therapies provide a variety of options for the multidisciplinary teams who are involved in the management of these critically ill patients. In this regard, veno-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO) can provide quite complete respiratory support, even if this highly complex technique presents substantial risks, such as bleeding, thromboembolic events and infection.While VV-ECMO circuits usually include the cannulation of two vessels (double cannulation) in its classic configuration, the use of a single cannula is now possible for VV-ECMO support. Recently, experienced centers have employed more advanced approaches by cannulating three vessels (triple cannulation) which follows veno-arterio-venous (VAV) or veno-arterio-pulmonary-arterial cannulation (VAPa). However, 'triple' cannulation expands the field of application but increases the complexity of ECMO systems. In the present review, the authors focus on the indications for VV-ECMO, patient assessment prior to cannulation, the role of ultrasound-guided vessel puncture, double lumen single bicaval cannulations, and finally triple cannulation in VV-ECMO.

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Background: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has been increasingly used over the last decade in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. ECMO weaning can, however, be challenging and lead to circulatory failure and death. Recent data suggest a potential benefit of levosimendan for ECMO weaning. We sought to further investigate whether the use of levosimendan could decrease the rate of ECMO weaning failure in adult patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. Methods: We performed an observational single-center cohort study. All patients undergoing VA-ECMO from January 2012 to December 2018 were eligible and divided into two groups: group levosimendan and group control (without levosimendan). The primary endpoint was VA-ECMO weaning failure defined as death during VA-ECMO treatment or within 24 h after VA-ECMO removal. Secondary outcomes were mortality at day 28 and at 6 months. The two groups were compared after propensity score matching. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Two hundred patients were analyzed (levosimendan group: n = 53 and control group: n = 147). No significant difference was found between groups on baseline characteristics except for ECMO duration, which was longer in the levosimendan group (10.6 ± 4.8 vs. 6.5 ± 4.7 days, p < 0.001). Levosimendan administration started 6.6 ± 5.4 days on average following ECMO implantation. After matching of 48 levosimendan patients to 78 control patients, the duration of ECMO was similar in both groups. The rate of weaning failure was 29.1% and 35.4% in levosimendan and control groups, respectively (OR: 0.69, 95%CI: 0.25-1.88). No significant difference was found between groups for all secondary outcomes. Conclusion: Levosimendan did not improve the rate of successful VA-ECMO weaning in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04323709.

Late VAs are common after LVAD implantation. The VT-LVAD score may help to identify patients at risk of late VAs and guide ICD indications in previously nonimplanted patients. (Determination of Risk Factors of Ventricular Arrhythmias [VAs] after implantation of continuous flow left ventricular assist device with continuous flow left ventricular assist device [CF-LVAD] [ASSIST-ICD]; NCT02873169).

Background: Cardiac failure is still a leading cause of death in drug intoxication. Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) could be used as a rescue therapeutic option in patients developing refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. The aim of this report is to present our results of ECLS in the setting of poisoning from cardiotoxic drugs. Methods: We included in this analysis consecutive patients who received an ECLS for refractory cardiogenic shock or in-hospital cardiac arrest due to drug intoxication. The primary endpoint of our study was survival to hospital discharge with good neurological recovery after ECLS support. Results: Between January 2010 and December 2015, we performed 12 ECLS. Mean age was 44.2±17.8 years and there was a predominance of females (66.7%). Drug intoxication was mainly due to beta-blockers and/or calcium channel inhibitors (83.3%) and 5 (41.7%) patients had multiple drugs overdose. Weaning rate and survival to hospital discharge with good neurological recovery were 75% (9 patients). Among patients weaned from ECLS, mean duration of support was 2.4±1.1 days. Three (25%) patients underwent ECLS implantation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 2 (66.6%) of them died while on mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Six (50%) patients developed lower limb ischemia. Each patient was managed with ECLS decannulation: 2 (16.7%) patients underwent a concomitant iliofemoral thrombectomy, 3 (25%) needed further fasciotomy and the remaining patient (8.3%) required an amputation. Conclusions: Refractory cardiogenic shock due to drug intoxication is still one of the best indications for ECLS owing to the satisfactory survival with good neurological outcome in such a critically ill population.Further data are however necessary in order to best understand the possible relation between drug intoxication and lower limb ischemia, which was quite superior to the reported rates.

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has known a widespread application over the last decade and is now an effective and valuable therapeutic option in refractory cardiogenic shock of various etiologies. In this subgroup of critically ill and unstable patients in cardiogenic shock, VA-ECMO allows, on the one hand, temporary hemodynamic stabilization with improvement of endorgan function and, on the other hand, gives the time to perform complementary diagnostic exams and to decide the therapeutic strategy in these high-risk candidates for immediate long-term mechanical circulatory support (MCS) implantation. VA-ECMO could also be suggested as a rescue therapeutic option for refractory cardiac arrest. It showed promising results in the specific setting of in-hospital cardiac arrest and survival rates with good neurological outcome are reported between 20% and 40%. Conversely, there are contrasting data in the literature about survival after VA-ECMO for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, as results are highly dependent on low-flow time. The aim of the present report is to offer an overview of different cannulation techniques of VA-ECMO.

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