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 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.
Acute poisoning is characterized by a sudden and rapid onset, most poisons lack specific antidotes. Even with the full use of blood purification, mechanical ventilation, and various drugs, it is often difficult to change the fatal outcome of critically ill patients. In recent years, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has gradually gained attention and exploratory application in the treatment of acute poisoning due to its significant cardiopulmonary function support, veno-venous ECMO is used for severe lung injury after poisoning, acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure due to ineffective mechanical ventilation, and it can also be used to assist the removal of residual poisons in the lungs. Veno-arterial ECMO is commonly employed in patients with circulatory failure following poisoning, fatal cardiac arrhythmias, and arrest of cardiac and respiratory. The application of veno-arterio-venous ECMO has also been reported. The mode of ECMO necessitates timely adjustments according to the evolving illness, while ongoing exploration of additional clinical indications is underway. This review analyzes and evaluates the application scope and effectiveness of ECMO in acute poisoning in recent years, with a view to better exploring and rationalizing the use of this technology.
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.
As an extracorporeal life support technology, veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) has been demonstrated its role in the treatment of patients with severe respiratory failure. Its main advantages include the ability to maintain adequate oxygenation and remove excess CO2, increase oxygen delivery, improve tissue perfusion and metabolism, and implement lung protection strategies. Clinicians should accurately assess and identify the patient's condition, timely and accurately carry out VV-ECMO operation and management. This article will review the patient selection, cannulation strategy, anticoagulation, clinical management and weaning involved in the application of VV-ECMO.
During the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been controversy over whether emergency surgical management should be performed or not in the patients with COVID-19. Stanford type A aortic dissection is a very urgent life-threatening disease, and guidelines recommend surgical treatment for patients with type A aortic dissection in the first instance. However, intraoperative extracorporeal circulation can be fatal to patients recovering from COVID-19. During the pandemic, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has played an important role in supporting COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure. This article reports a successful V-V ECMO treatment for a Stanford type A aortic dissection patient, who suffered respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 after emergency surgery.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the correlation of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), activated clotting time (ACT) and the activity of anti-factor Ⅹa activity with the concentration of unfractionated heparin (UFH) during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in children after cardiac surgery.MethodsThe clinical data of children (aged 6 months to 6 years) who received ECMO support after cardiac surgery in Fuwai Hospital from January 2010 to October 2020 were retrospectively collected. And the aPTT value, ACT value, anti-Ⅹa activity and the corresponding UFH dose measured simultaneously during ECMO were recorded. According to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization anticoagulation guideline, the bleeding events of children during ECMO support were defined, and the children were divided into a bleeding group and a non-bleeding group according to whether bleeding events occurred. Pearson correlation was used to evaluate the correlation between ACT, aPTT or anti-Ⅹa activity and UFH in the same patient.ResultsA total of 58 children, including 33 males and 25 females, aged 27.31±34.17 months, were enrolled and divided into the bleeding group (n=39) and the non-bleeding group (n=19). Univariate analysis showed that compared with children in the non-bleeding group, children in the bleeding group had lower red blood cell counts (P=0.049), hemoglobin concentration (P=0.010), and hematocrit (P=0.046) on the day of ECMO installation. In addition, the transfusion volume of fresh frozen plasma (P=0.034) and fibrinogen (P=0.033) in the bleeding group was relatively more, and the proportion of exploratory thoracotomy for hemostasis was high (P=0.000); there was a moderate degree of correlation between anti-Ⅹa and UFH (r=0.418, P=0.013) but there was no correlation between ACT or aPTT and UFH.ConclusionThe aPTT value and ACT value are poorly correlated with the concentration of UFH transfused during ECMO in children after cardiac surgery, while the anti-Ⅹa activity is moderately correlated with it.
Objective To investigate the indications, procedures, risks and efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in bronchoscopic interventional surgery for patients with severe airway stenosis. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on 6 patients with severe airway stenosis treated by bronchoscopic surgery under ECMO in West China Hospital from January 2018 to July 2021, and the experience of application was summarized in combination with 23 relevant literatures retrieved. Results Six patients on ECMO successfully completed bronchoscopic interventional surgery with satisfactory intraoperative oxygenation and no obvious hemostasis difficulties were observed. ECMO placement was as an emergency medical countermeasure in 3 patients while the other 3 patients were as preventive purpose. Following treatment, the shortness of breath index and mMRC score decreased and the patients were cured and discharged. During hospitalization, 3 patients had lower extremity deep vein thrombosis, and 1 patient with lower extremity swelling and pain, which was relieved after treatment with low molecular weight heparin. During discharge follow-up, 1 patient died due to airway stenosis, pulmonary infection, and subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to cardiopulmonary resuscitation, while the other 5 patients did not show any worsening of dyspnea. Combined with the retrieval of 46 similar cases reported in the literature before 2020, it was concluded that these patients who met the application indications of ECMO and followed the shutdown procedure had a good prognosis and controllable risk. Conclusions ECMO can ensure the safety of patients with severe airway stenosis who need undergoing bronchoscopic interventional surgery for patients, improve the success rate of the operation and do not significantly increase the risk of bleeding. However, ECMO is difficult to operate and requires professional team management. Therefore, it is essential to master the indications of application, implement strict withdrawal procedures and necessary monitoring to improve the patient's cure rate and reduce the occurrence of adverse events.
[Abstract]Acute cardiac tamponade after thoracoscopic lobectomy is extremely rare and highly lethal once it occurs. This paper reports a case of a 64-year-old male with preoperative hypertension and coronary heart disease who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic right upper lung wedge resection for early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. Three hours postoperatively, he suddenly developed hypotension and loss of consciousness. Ultrasound indicated a large amount of pericardial effusion, suggesting cardiac tamponade. Despite emergency pericardiocentesis, his hemodynamics did not improve, and the patient went into cardiac arrest. Subsequent veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was performed to support systemic circulation, and emergency thoracotomy was carried out. During the surgery, a needle-like tear in the anterior wall of the ascending aorta was found, corresponding exactly to a prominent staple at the lung resection margin, suggesting a stapler malfunction. After vascular repair, the patient recovered smoothly and was discharged. This case suggests that during lung resection, great attention should be paid to the integrity of staples and anatomical variations of large vessels, and vigilance is needed for rare but potentially fatal stapler-related complications.
Objective To analyze the risk factors for death in children with interruption of aortic arch (IAA) and ventricular septal defect (VSD) after one-stage radical surgery. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with IAA and VSD who underwent one-stage radical treatment in the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2006 to January 2017. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for death after the surgery. Results A total of 152 children were enrolled, including 70 males and 82 females. Twenty-two patients died with a mean age of 30.73±9.21 d, and the other 130 patients survived with a mean age of 37.62±11.06 d. The Cox analysis showed that younger age (OR=0.551, 95%CI 0.320-0.984, P=0.004), low body weight (OR=0.632, 95%CI 0.313-0.966, P=0.003), large ratio of VSD diameter/aortic root diameter (VSD/AO, OR=2.547, 95%CI 1.095-7.517, P=0.044), long cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR=1.374, 95%CI 1.000-3.227, P=0.038), left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO, OR=3.959, 95%CI 1.123-9.268, P=0.015) were independent risk factors for postoperative death. Conclusion For children with IAA and VSD, younger age, low body weight, large ratio of VSD/AO, long cardiopulmonary bypass time and LVOTO are risk factors for death after one-stage radical surgery.