ObjectiveTo describe the outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for patients after aortic surgery and to summarize the experience. Methods The clinical data of patients who received ECMO support after aortic surgery in Fuwai Hospital from 2009 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients who received an aortic dissection surgery were allocated into a dissection group, and the other patients were allocated into a non-dissection group. The in-hospital and follow-up survival rates were compared between the two groups, and the causes of death were analyzed. ResultsA total of 22 patients were enrolled, including 17 patients in the dissection group [13 males and 4 females, with a median age of 54 (46, 61) years] and 5 patients in the non-dissection group [3 males and 2 females, with a median age of 51 (41, 65) years]. There was no statistical difference in the age and gender between the two groups (P>0.05). The in-hospital survival rate (11.8% vs. 100.0%, P=0.001) and follow-up survival rate (11.8% vs. 80.0%, P=0.009) of the patients in the dissection group were significantly lower than those in the non-dissection group. The causes of death in the dissection group included massive bleeding and disseminated intravascular coagulation (3 patients), ventricular thrombosis (1 patient), irreversible brain injury (2 patients), visceral malperfusion syndrome (4 patients) and irreversible heart failure (5 patients). ConclusionECMO after aortic dissection surgery is associated with high mortality, which is related to the pathological features of aortic dissection and severely disrupted coagulation system after the surgery. For these patients, strict indication selection and optimal management strategy are important.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical value of fibrinogen-albumin-ratio (FAR) in adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) hemorrhage. MethodsThe clinical data of adult patients receiving ECMO in the West China Hospital from 2018 to 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into a bleeding group and a non-bleeding group based on whether they experienced bleeding after ECMO. Logistic regression analysis was used to study the relationship between FAR and bleeding, as well as risk factors for death. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used to analyze the predictive ability of FAR. According to the optimal cut-off value of FAR for predicting hemorrhage, patients were divided into a high-risk group and a low-risk group, and the occurrence of bleeding was compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 125 patients were enrolled in this study, including 85 males and 40 females, aged 46.00 (31.50, 55.50) years. Among them, 58 patients received veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and 67 patients received veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). There were 49 patients having bleeding, and the lactate level was higher (P=0.026), the platelet count before ECMO initiation and 24 h after ECMO initiation was lower (P=0.031, 0.020), the fibrinogen level 24 h after ECMO initiation was lower (P=0.049), and the proportion of myocarditis patients was higher (P=0.017) in the bleeding group than those of the non-bleeding group. In the subgroup analysis of ECMO mode, the higher D-Dimer, lactate level and lower FAR before and 24 h after ECMO initiation were associated with bleeding in the VA-ECMO group (P=0.017, 0.011, 0.033, 0.005). The 24 h FAR was independently correlated with bleeding (P=0.048), and AUC was 0.714. The cut-off value was 55.73. According to this optimal cut-off value, 25 patients were divided into the high-risk group (≤55.73) and 33 into the low-risk group (>55.73). There was a higher incidence of bleeding in the high-risk group compared to the low-risk group (unadjusted P=0.002; P=0.013 for multivariable adjustment). In the VV-ECMO group, the relationship between FAR and bleeding events was not significant (P>0.05). ConclusionLow 24 h FAR is an independent risk factor for bleeding in VA-ECMO patients, and the diagnostic cut-off value is 55.73.
Cardiogenic shock (CS) describes a physiological state of end-organ hypoperfusion characterized by reduced cardiac output in the presence of adequate intravascular volume. Mortality still remains exceptionally high. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) has become the preferred device for short-term hemodynamic support in patients with CS. ECMO provides the highest cardiac output, complete cardiopulmonary support. In addition, the device has portable characteristics, more familiar to medical personnel. VA ECMO provides cardiopulmonary support for patients in profound CS as a bridge to myocardial recovery. This review provides an overview of VA ECMO in salvage of CS, emphasizing the indications, management and further direction.
ObjectiveTo explore the diagnosis and treatment of severe adenovirus pneumonia patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a short time and reduce the complications after rehabilitation. MethodsThe clinical data, laboratory results, treatment process and imaging outcomes of three severe community-acquired adenovirus pneumonia patients with normal immune function were analyzed. ResultsAll the three patients developed ARDS in a very short time. In the early stage, alveolar lavage fluid obtained by fiberoptic bronchoscopy was taken for macrogenomic second-generation sequencing (mNGS), adenovirus was detected and antiviral drugs were immediately used. The first two patients received cidofovir antiviral therapy and the third patient received ribavirin antiviral therapy. All three patients received very high respiratory support, of which the first two received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment. The lungs of all three patients recovered well after treatment. ConclusionsThe diagnosis and treatment of severe adenovirus pneumonia is still based on individualized symptomatic support, immune regulation and treatment of complications. mNGS can help diagnose and direct treatment of adenovirus pneumonia as early as possible, which is beneficial to reduce complications and improve survival rate.
ObjectiveTo analyze the early outcomes of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction after surgical repair, and to explore the predictors for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for these patients.MethodsThe clinical data of ALCAPA patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction<40%) who underwent coronary artery reimplantation in the pediatric center of our hospital from 2013 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into an ECMO group and a non-ECMO group. Clinical data of the two groups were compared and analyzed.ResultsA total of 64 ALCAPA patients were included. There were 7 patients in the ECMO group, including 4 males and 3 females aged 6.58±1.84 months. There were 57 pateints in the non-ECMO group, including 30 males and 27 females aged 4.34±2.56 months. The mortality of the patients was 6.25% (4/64), including 2 patients in the ECMO group, and 2 in the non-ECMO group. The postoperative complications rate was significantly higher in the ECMO group than that in the non-ECMO group (P=0.041). There were statistical differences in the cardiopulmonary bypass time [254 (153, 417) min vs. 106 (51, 192) min, P=0.013], aortic cross-clamping (ACC) time (89.57±13.66 min vs. 61.58±19.57 min, P=0.039), and preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter/body surface area (132.32±14.71 mm/m2 vs. 108.00±29.64 mm/m2, P=0.040) between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ACC time was an independent risk factor for postoperative ECMO support (P=0.005). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve was 0.757, the sensitivity was 85.70%, specificity was 66.70%, with the cut-off value of 66 min.ConclusionACC time is an independent risk factor for postoperative ECMO support. Patients with an ACC time>66 min have a significantly higher risk for ECMO support after the surgery.
ObjectiveTo analyze the risk factors for pediatric heart transplantation at a single center and its impact on short-term prognosis, providing experience and reference for pediatric heart transplantation. MethodsThe children who underwent heart transplantation from May 2022 to May 2024 at the Seventh Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital were included in this study. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of donors and recipients, perioperative conditions, and postoperative complications. The double-lumen venoplasty technique was used for all surgeries. Basiliximab was applied for immune induction during and after the operation (on the 4th day). Tacrolimus+mycophenolate mofetil+prednisolone acetate was used for postoperative immunosuppressive maintenance treatment. According to whether patients had a history of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) installation before surgery, they were divided into an ECMO group and a non-ECMO group. The postoperative ICU stay time, postoperative ventilator assistance time, aortic clamping time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, recipient body surface area, left ventricular ejection fraction, X-ray cardiothoracic ratio, donor heart cold ischemia time, and the weight ratio between donor and recipient were compared between the two groups, and correlation analysis was performed. ResultsA total of 17 children were included, with 10 (58.8%) males and 7 (41.2%) females. Their ages ranged from 7 months to 16 years, with a median age of 11.0 (10.0, 13.0) years. Their weights ranged from 7.0 to 67.5 kg, with an average weight of (41.6±16.7) kg. Of the 17 children, 16 survived post-operation, and 1 died 5 days after the operation. Five patients were ABO incompatible heart transplantations, and 11 patients had a history of ECMO installation before surgery. The left ventricular ejection fraction of the non-ECMO group was higher than that of the ECMO group (t=2.188, P=0.045). The postoperative ICU stay time and postoperative ventilator assistance time (r=0.599, P=0.011), and cardiopulmonary bypass time (r=0.667, P=0.003) were positively correlated. The cardiothoracic ratio was negatively correlated with the postoperative ventilator assistance time (r=−0.527, P=0.030). ConclusionPediatric heart transplantation is an effective treatment method for children with end-stage heart failure. The left ventricular ejection fraction of the recipient may be a predictive factor indicating that the child needs ECMO assistance. Longer extracorporeal circulation time and larger recipient body surface area may affect the surgical process and perioperative prognosis.