Is the new, noninvasive, continuous cardiorespiratory monitoring reliable during neonatal ECMO?

BACKGROUND: Advances in cardiorespiratory monitoring have made the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technique safer for the patient. Noninvasive, continuous tools are available, although data on their applications in the neonatal ECMO setting are lacking. OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively described the neonatal clinical application of this continuous, noninvasive ECMO monitor and compared the analyzed parameters from those derived from blood gas analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 897 h of cardiorespiratory monitoring during neonatal venoarterial-ECMO (VA-ECMO) for four patients affected by (cardio-) respiratory failure, to compare the reliability of a noninvasive, continuous monitoring Spectrum M4® (M4) (Spectrum Medical, Gloucester, England) to an invasive, intermittent co-monitoring with blood gas analyzer (Radiometer Medical ApS, Brønshøj, Denmark). RESULTS: A range of 117 pairs (time-matched BGA-derived vs. M4-derived parameters) was retrospectively analyzed. T-test, linear regression and Bland-Altman analysis for hemoglobin, hematocrit, venous oxygen saturation, oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption, oxygen extraction ratio, oxygen partial pressure, and carbon dioxide partial pressure showed a strong relationship between the two monitors for all parameters analyzed (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous, noninvasive cardiorespiratory monitoring appears to be feasible and reliable, although its accuracy needs to be verified in a more extensive cohort.

Start a Neonatal Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Program: A Multistep Team Training.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a complex life-saving support for acute cardio-respiratory failure, unresponsive to medical treatment. Emergency events on ECMO are rare but require immediate and proficient management. Multidisciplinary ECMO team members need to acquire and maintain over time cognitive, technical and behavioral skills, to safely face life-threatening clinical scenarios. Methods: A multistep educational program was delivered in a 4-year period to 32 ECMO team members, based on guidelines from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. A first traditional module was provided through didactic lectures, hands-on water drills, and laboratory animal training. The second phase consisted of a multi-edition high-fidelity simulation-based training on a modified neonatal mannequin (SimNewB®). In each session, participants were called to face, in small groups, ten critical scenarios, followed by debriefing time. Trainees underwent a pre-test for baseline competency assessment. Once completed the full training program, a post-test was administered. Pre- and post-test scores were compared. Trainees rated the educational program through survey questionnaires. Results: 28 trainees (87.5%) completed the full educational program. ECMO staff skills improved from a median pre-test score of 7.5/18 (IQR = 6-11) to 14/18 (IQR = 14-16) at post-test (P < 0.001, Wilcoxon rank test). All trainees highly rated the educational program and its impact on their practice. They reported high-fidelity simulations to be beneficial to novice learners as it increased self-confidence in ECMO-emergencies (according to 100% of surveyed), theoretical knowledge (61.5%) and team-work/communicative skills (58%). Conclusions: The multistep ECMO team training increased staff' knowledge, technical skills, teamwork, and self-confidence, allowing the successful development of a neonatal respiratory ECMO program. Conventional training was perceived as relevant in the early phase of the program development, while the active learning emerged to be more beneficial to master ECMO knowledge, specific skills, and team performance.