Temporary extracorporeal life support: single-centre experience with a new concept

Abstract

OBJECTIVES The combination of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (va-ECMO) with a micro-axial flow pump (ECMELLA) is increasingly used for cardiogenic shock (CS) therapy. We report our experience with a novel single-artery access ECMELLA setup with either femoral (2.0) or jugular venous cannulation (2.1), respectively. METHODS Data from 67 consecutive CS patients treated with ECMELLA 2.0 (n = 56) and 2.1 (n = 11) from 12/2020 and 12/2022 in a tertiary cardiac center were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS The mean age was 60.7 ± 11 years, 56 patients (84%) were male. CS aetiology was acute on chronic heart failure (n = 35, 52%), myocardial infarction (n = 13, 19.5%), postcardiotomy syndrome (n = 16, 24%), and myocarditis (n = 3, 4.5%). Preoperatively 31 patients (46%) were resuscitated, 53 (79%) were on a ventilator and 60 (90%) were on inotropic support. The median vasoactive inotropic score was 32, the mean arterial lactate was 8.1 mmol/L. In 39 patients (58%) va-ECMO was explanted after a median ECMELLA support of four days. Myocardial recovery was achieved in 18 patients (27%), transition to a durable LVAD in 16 (24%). Thirty-three patients (n = 33; 49%) died on support (25 on ECMELLA and 8 on Impella after de-escalation), 9 (13%) of whom were palliated. Axillary access site bleeding occurred in 9 patients (13.5%), upper limb ischaemia requiring surgical revision in 3 (4.5%). Axillary site infection occurred in 6 cases (9%), perioperative stroke in 10 (15%; 6 hemorrhagic, 4 thromboembolic). CONCLUSIONS ECMELLA 2.0/2.1 is a feasible and effective therapy for severe CS. The single-artery cannulation technique is associated with a relatively low rate of access-related complications.