Our data enlarge the body of evidence showing that ROTEM(®) assays are useful in trauma patients. Treatment concepts should focus on maintaining fibrin polymerization and treating hyperfibrinolysis.

Background. Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) bears the potential for significant prolongation of liver preservation before transplantation. Although safety and feasibility have been recently published, no data are available describing the significant challenges of establishing NMP programs outside clinical studies. We herein present our experience and propose a multidisciplinary approach for liver NMP in the clinical routine. Methods. In February 2018, liver NMP was introduced for routine use in marginal organs, logistic challenges, and complex recipients at our institution. In a multidisciplinary effort among transplant coordinators, perfusionists, transplant surgeons, anesthesia, nurses, blood bank as well as laboratory staff, a clinical routine was established and 34 NMP cases were performed without critical incidents or organ loss. Results. Nine livers were discarded due to poor organ quality and function observed during NMP. Twenty-five livers were successfully transplanted after preservation of up to 38 h. The extended criteria donors rate was 100% and 92% in discarded and transplanted livers, respectively. Nighttime procedures and parallel transplantations were eventually omitted. Graft and patient survival was 88% at 20 mo. No cholangiopathy was observed despite the use of extended criteria donor organs in 92% of cases. Conclusions. NMP in a multidisciplinary approach enables a safe prolongation of liver preservation and overnight organ care. A first field test of NMP indicates safety and benefit of this approach.

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The development of extracorporeal life support technology has added a new dimension to the care of critically ill patients who fail conventional treatment options. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)—specialized temporary life support for patients with severe cardiac or pulmonary failure—plays a role in bridging the time for organ recovery, transplant, or permanent assistance. The overall patient outcome is dependent on the underlying disease, comorbidities, patient reaction to critical illness, and potential adverse events during ECMO. Moreover, the contact of the blood with the large artificial surface of an extracorporeal system circuit triggers complex inflammatory and coagulation responses. These processes may further lead to endothelial injury and disrupted microcirculation with consequent end-organ dysfunction and the development of adverse events like thromboembolism. Therefore, systemic anticoagulation is considered crucial to alleviate the risk of thrombosis and failure of ECMO circuit components. The gold standard and most used anticoagulant during extracorporeal life support is unfractionated heparin, with all its benefits and disadvantages. However, therapeutic anticoagulation of a critically ill patient carries the risk of clinically relevant bleeding with the potential for permanent injury or death. Similarly, thrombotic events may occur. Therefore, different anticoagulation strategies are employed, while the monitoring and the balance of procoagulant and anticoagulatory factors is of immense importance. This narrative review summarizes the most recent considerations on anticoagulation during ECMO support, with a special focus on anticoagulation monitoring and future directions.

participated in data collection, data analysis, and critical revision of the article. C.I. and A.G. contributed reagents, analytic tools, and participated in data analysis. M.R. and H.U. participated in data analysis and statistical support. D.Ö. and J.T. supported the study, contributed research advice, and revised the article critically.

Background Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (va-ECMO) is an advanced life support for critically ill patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. This temporary support bridges time for recovery, permanent assist, or transplantation in patients with high risk of mortality. However, the benefit of this modality is still subject of discussion and despite the continuous development of critical care medicine, severe cardiogenic shock remains associated with high mortality. Therefore, this work aims to analyze the current literature regarding in-hospital mortality and complication rates of va-ECMO in patients with cardiogenic shock. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the most recent literature to analyze the outcomes of va-ECMO support. Using the PRISMA guidelines, Medline (PubMed) and Scopus (Elsevier) databases were systematically searched up to May 2022. Meta-analytic pooled estimation of publications variables was performed using a weighted random effects model for study size. Results Thirty-two studies comprising 12756 patients were included in the final analysis. Between 1994 and 2019, 62% (pooled estimate, 8493/12756) of patients died in the hospital. More than one-third of patients died during ECMO support. The most frequent complications were renal failure (51%, 693/1351) with the need for renal replacement therapy (44%, 4879/11186) and bleeding (49%, 1971/4523), bearing the potential for permanent injury or death. Univariate meta-regression analyses identified age over 60 years, shorter ECMO duration and presence of infection as variables associated with in-hospital mortality, while the studies reporting a higher incidence of cannulation site bleeding were unexpectedly associated with a reduced in-hospital mortality. Conclusions Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is an invasive life support with a high risk of complications. We identified a pooled in-hospital mortality of 62% with patient age, infection and ECMO support duration being associated with a higher mortality. Protocols and techniques must be developed to reduce the rate of adverse events. Finally, randomized trials are necessary to demonstrate the effectiveness of va-ECMO in cardiogenic shock.

The concept of intensive care units (ICU) has existed for almost 70 years, with outstanding development progress in the last decades. Multidisciplinary care of critically ill patients has become an integral part of every modern health care system, ensuing improved care and reduced mortality. Early recognition of severe medical and surgical illnesses, advanced prehospital care and organized immediate care in trauma centres led to a rise of ICU patients. Due to the underlying disease and its need for complex mechanical support for monitoring and treatment, it is often necessary to facilitate bed-side diagnostics. Immediate diagnostics are essential for a successful treatment of life threatening conditions, early recognition of complications and good quality of care. Management of ICU patients is incomprehensible without continuous and sophisticated monitoring, bedside ultrasonography, diverse radiologic diagnostics, blood gas analysis, coagulation and blood management, laboratory and other point-of-care (POC) diagnostic modalities. Moreover, in the time of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, particular attention is given to the POC diagnostic techniques due to additional concerns related to the risk of infection transmission, patient and healthcare workers safety and potential adverse events due to patient relocation. This review summarizes the most actual information on possible diagnostic modalities in critical care, with a special focus on the importance of point-of-care approach in the laboratory monitoring and imaging procedures.