Long-term outcomes of patients bridged to recovery with venoarterial extracorporeal life support.

OBJECTIVE: Our study examines the long-term outcomes of patients discharged from the hospital without heart replacement therapy (HRT) after recovery from cardiogenic shock using venoarterial extracorporeal life support (VA-ECLS). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 615 cardiogenic shock patients who recovered from VA-ECLS at our institution between January 2015 and July 2021. Of those, 166 patients (27.0%) who recovered from VA-ECLS without HRT were included in this study. Baseline characteristics, discharge labs, vitals, electrocardiograms and echocardiograms were assessed. Patients were contacted to determine vital status. The primary outcome was post-discharge mortality. RESULTS: Of 166 patients, 158 patients (95.2%) had post-discharge follow-up, with a median time of follow-up of 2 years (IQR: [1 year, 4 years]). At discharge, the median ejection fraction (EF) was 52.5% (IQR: [32.5, 57.5]). At discharge, 92 patients (56%) were prescribed ß-blockers, 28 (17%) were prescribed an ACE inhibitor, ARB or ARNI, and 50 (30%) were prescribed loop diuretics. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a 1-year survival rate of 85.6% (95% CI: [80.1%, 91.2%]) and a 5-year survival rate of 60.6% (95% CI: [49.9%, 71.3%]). A Cox regression model demonstrated that a history of congestive heart failure (CHF) was strongly predictive of increased mortality hazard (HR = 1.929; p = 0.036), while neither discharge EF nor etiology of VA-ECLS were associated with increased post-discharge mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients discharged from the hospital after full myocardial recovery from VA-ECLS support without HRT should have close outpatient follow-up due to the risk of recurrent heart failure and increased mortality in these patients.

Modifiable Mechanical Ventilation Targets Are Associated With Improved Survival in Ventilated VA-ECLS Patients.

BACKGROUND: In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), lung protective ventilation (LPV) improves patient outcomes by minimizing ventilator-induced lung injury. The value of LPV in ventilated patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) requiring venoarterial extracorporeal life support (VA-ECLS) is not known, but the extracorporeal circuit provides a unique opportunity to modify ventilatory parameters to improve outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The authors hypothesized that CS patients on VA-ECLS who require mechanical ventilation (MV) may benefit from low intrapulmonary pressure ventilation (LPPV), which has the same end goals as LPV. METHODS: The authors queried the ELSO (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization) registry for hospital admissions between 2009 and 2019 for CS patients on VA-ECLS and MV. They defined LPPV as peak inspiratory pressure at 24 hours on ECLS of <30 cm H2O. Positive end-expiration pressure and dynamic driving pressure (DDP) at 24 hours were also studied as continuous variables. Their primary outcome was survival to discharge. Multivariable analyses were performed that adjusted for baseline Survival After Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation score, chronic lung conditions, and center extracorporeal membrane oxygenation volume. RESULTS: A total of 2,226 CS patients on VA-ECLS were included: 1,904 received LPPV. The primary outcome was higher in the LPPV group vs the no-LPPV group (47.4% vs 32.6%; P < 0.001). Median peak inspiratory pressure (22 vs 24 cm H2O; P < 0.001) as well as DDP (14.5 vs 16 cm H2O; P < 0.001) were also significantly lower in those surviving to discharge. The adjusted OR for the primary outcome with LPPV was 1.69 (95% CI: 1.21-2.37; P = 0.0021). CONCLUSIONS: LPPV is associated with improved outcomes in CS patients on VA-ECLS requiring MV.

Early Blood Pressure Variables Associated With Improved Outcomes in VA-ECLS: The ELSO Registry Analysis.

BACKGROUND: As utilization of veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (VA-ECLS) in treatment of cardiogenic shock (CS) continues to expand, clinical variables that guide clinicians in early recognition of myocardial recovery and therefore, improved survival, after VA-ECLS are critical. There remains a paucity of literature on early postinitiation blood pressure measurements that predict improved outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to help identify early blood pressure variables associated with improved outcomes in VA-ECLS. METHODS: The authors queried the ELSO (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization) registry for cardiogenic shock patients treated with VA-ECLS or venovenous arterial ECLS between 2009 and 2020. Their inclusion criteria included treatment with VA-ECLS or venovenous arterial ECLS; absence of pre-existing durable right, left, or biventricular assist devices; no pre-ECLS cardiac arrest; and no surgical or percutaneously placed left ventricular venting devices during their ECLS runs. Their primary outcome of interest was the survival to discharge during index hospitalization. RESULTS: A total of 2,400 CS patients met the authors' inclusion criteria and had complete documentation of blood pressures. Actual mortality during index hospitalization in their cohort was 49.5% and survivors were younger and more likely to be Caucasian, intubated for >30 hours pre-ECLS initiation, and had a favorable baseline SAVE (Survival After Veno-arterial ECMO) score (P < 0.05 for all). Multivariable regression analyses adjusting for SAVE score, age, ECLS flow at 4 hours, and race showed that every 10-mm Hg increase in baseline systolic blood pressure (HR: 0.92 [95% CI: 0.89-0.95]; P < 0.001), and baseline pulse pressure (HR: 0.88 [95% CI: 0.84-0.91]; P < 0.001) at 24 hours was associated with a statistically significant reduction in mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Early (within 24 hours) improvements in pulse pressure and systolic blood pressure from baseline are associated with improved survival to discharge among CS patients treated with VA-ECLS.

ECPella: Concept, Physiology and Clinical Applications.

Addition of Impella on top of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has gained wide interest as it might portend improved outcomes in patients with cardiogenic shock. This has been consistently reported in retrospective propensity-matched studies, case series, and meta-analyses. The pathophysiologic background is based on the mitigation of ECMO-related side effects and the additive benefit of myocardial unloading. In this perspective, thorough knowledge of these mechanisms is required to optimize the management of mechanical circulatory support with this approach and introduce best practices, as the interplay between the two devices and the implantation-explantation strategies are key for success.

Impact of left ventricular inspection employing cardiopulmonary bypass on outcome after implantation of left ventricular assist device.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation provides circulatory support and allows for safe inspection of the left ventricle (LV), whereas circulatory support by veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (va-ECLS) or off-pump implantation may reduce postoperative bleeding and inflammatory response. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 616 consecutive adult patients who received an LVAD via median sternotomy between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019. All patients undergoing concomitant intracardiac procedures other than closure of persistent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect and redo surgeries were excluded from the analysis. The remaining patients (n = 222) were divided into two groups and 1:1 propensity score-matched regarding preoperative parameters: patients who underwent LVAD implantation with LV inspection employing CPB (CPB group, n = 62) and without LV inspection on va-ECLS or off-pump (non-CPB group, n = 62). RESULTS: The groups were well balanced with regard to preoperative baseline characteristics (standard difference <0.1). Patients in the CPB group required more blood transfusions (median 2 vs. 0 units, p = 0.031) during surgery and in the first 24 h afterwards. The median intensive care unit stay was longer in the CPB group (18 vs. 11 days, p = 0.021). The CPB group showed an absence of perioperative stroke and a smaller number of events per patient-year for postoperative ischemic stroke (0.02 vs. 0.12, p = 0.003). 30-day survival (87% vs. 87.1%) and 1-year survival (80.3% vs. 74%) were similar in both groups (p = 0.78). CONCLUSION: Visual LV inspection on CPB may reduce the risk of postoperative ischemic stroke. Despite the negative effects of employing CPB in lieu of other intraoperative strategies, survival was similar in both groups.

Pulse pressure and end-tidal carbon dioxide for monitoring low native cardiac output during veno-arterial ECLS: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (VA-ECLS) results in cardiopulmonary shunting with reduced native cardiac output (NCO). Low NCO occurrence is common and associated with risk of thromboembolic and pulmonary complications. Practical tools for monitoring NCO during VA-ECLS would therefore be valuable. Pulse pressure (PP) and end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) are known to be related to cardiac output. We have designed a study to test whether PP and EtCO2 were efficient for the monitoring of NCO during VA-ECLS. METHODS: In this prospective single-center observational study, patients who underwent a VA-ECLS for cardiogenic shock from January 2016 to October 2017 were included, provided low NCO was suspected by a PP < 20 mmHg. NCO was measured with pulmonary artery catheter or echocardiography and compared to PP and EtCO2. The ability of PP and EtCO2 to predict NCO < 1 L/min was evaluated with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Among the 106 patients treated with VA-ECLS for cardiogenic shock during the study period, 26 were studied, allowing the collection of 196 study points. PP and EtCO2 relationships with NCO were nonlinear and showed strong correlations for NCO < 2 L/min (r = 0.69 and r = 0.78 respectively). A PP < 15 mmHg and EtCO2 < 14 mmHg had good predictive values for detecting NCO < 1 L/min (area under ROC curve 0.93 [95% CI 0.89-0.96] and 0.97 [95% CI 0.94-0.99] respectively, p = 0.058). CONCLUSIONS: PP and EtCO2 may offer an accurate real-time monitoring of low NCO events during VA-ECLS support. Further studies are needed to show if their utilization may help to implement therapeutic strategies in order to prevent thromboembolic and respiratory complications associated with VA-ECLS, and to improve patients' prognosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03323268 , July 12, 2016.