Functional Status and Quality of Life 6 Months After Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Therapy for COVID-19-Related Pulmonary Failure.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly used in COVID-19-related pulmonary failure and the number of patients recovering from COVID-19 is growing. Here, we assess survival and recovery 6 months after ECMO for COVID-19. From April 2020 to September 2021, n = 60 (60.5 [51.0-65.0] years, 23.3% female) were treated with venovenous/venoarterial ECMO for COVID-19. 41.7% were weaned off ECMO, survival-to-discharge was 40.0% (n = 24). Age (63.0 [60.0-66.8] vs. 55.0 [43.8-60.0] years, p < 0.001), vasoactive support (97.2% vs . 75.0%, p = 0.013), and pre-ECMO SOFA scores (13.0 [12.0-14.8] vs. 12.0 [10.0-13.8] p = 0.036) correlated with nonsurvival. All patients aged >65 years, with histories of neoplasia, immunocompromise, chronic renal failure, or frailty died. After 6 months, 20 were alive (6-month survival 33.3%, survival conditioned on survival-to-discharge 83.3%), with follow-up in 19. 57.9% showed no relevant, 26.3% moderate, 15.8% severe deficits. Cardiopulmonary status was satisfactory (mMRC level: 84.2% ≤2). 73.7% were independent in daily life. Cognitive impairments were frequent (52.6%). 26.3% showed moderate depression, 15.8% posttraumatic stress disorder. Social and work life were considerably affected. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation thus can serve as salvage therapy in COVID-19, but advanced age, immunocompromise, histories of neoplasia, and frailty must be considered as relative contraindications. Age, vasoactive support, and SOFA scores assist discriminating in daily practice. Deficits after 6 months are substantial, and efforts need to focus on long-term recovery.

Extracorporeal life support in therapy-refractory cardiocirculatory failure: looking beyond 30 days.

OBJECTIVES: Venoarterial extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has emerged as a potentially life-saving treatment option in therapy-refractory cardiocirculatory failure, but longer-term outcome is poorly defined. Here, we present a comprehensive follow-up analysis covering all major organ systems. METHODS: From February 2012 to December 2016, 180 patients were treated with ECLS for therapy-refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. The 30-day survival was 43.9%, and 30-day survivors (n = 79) underwent follow-up analysis with the assessment of medium-term survival, quality of life, neuropsychological, cardiopulmonary and end-organ status. RESULTS: After a median of 1.9 (1.1-3.6) years (182.4 patient years), 45 of the 79 patients (57.0%) were alive, 35.4% had died and 7.6% were lost to follow-up. Follow-up survival estimates were 78.0% at 1, 61.2% at 3 and 55.1% at 5 years. NYHA class at follow-up was ≤II for 83.3%. The median creatinine was 1.1 (1.0-1.4) mg/dl, and the median bilirubin was 0.8 (0.5-1.0) mg/dl. No patient required dialysis. Overall, 94.4% were free from moderate or severe disability, although 11.1% needed care. Full re-integration into social life was reported by 58.3%, and 39.4% were working. Quality of life was favourable for mental components, but a subset showed deficits in physical aspects. While age was the only peri-implantation parameter significantly predicting medium-term survival, adverse events and functional status at discharge or 30 days were strong predictors. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates positive medium-term outcome with high rates of independence in daily life and self-care but a subset of 10-20% suffered from sustained impairments. Our results indicate that peri-implantation parameters lack predictive power but downstream morbidity and functional status at discharge or 30 days can help identify patients at risk for poor recovery.

Chronic Nicotine Exposure Induces Murine Aortic Remodeling and Stiffness Segmentation-Implications for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Susceptibility.

Aim: Arterial stiffness is a significant risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases, including abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Nicotine, the major active ingredient of e-cigarettes and tobacco smoke, induces acute vasomotor effects that may temporarily increase arterial stiffness. Here, we investigated the effects of long-term nicotine exposure on structural aortic stiffness. Methods: Mice (C57BL/6) were infused with nicotine for 40 days (20 mg/kg/day). Arterial stiffness of the thoracic (TS) and abdominal (AS) aortic segments was analyzed using ultrasound (PWV, pulse wave velocity) and ex vivo pressure myograph measurements. For mechanistic studies, aortic matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and activity as well as medial elastin architecture were analyzed. Results: Global aortic stiffness increased with nicotine. In particular, local stiffening of the abdominal segment occurred after 10 days, while thoracic aortic stiffness was only increased after 40 days, resulting in aortic stiffness segmentation. Mechanistically, nicotine exposure enhanced expression of MMP-2/-9 and elastolytic activity in both aortic segments. Elastin degradation occurred in both segments; however, basal elastin levels were higher in the thoracic aorta. Finally, MMP-inhibition significantly reduced nicotine-induced MMP activity, elastin destruction, and aortic stiffening. Conclusion: Chronic nicotine exposure induces aortic MMP expression and structural aortic damage (elastin fragmentation), irreversibly increasing aortic stiffness. This process predominantly affects the abdominal aortic segment, presumably due in part to a lower basal elastin content. This novel phenomenon may help to explain the role of nicotine as a major risk factor for AAA formation and has health implications for ECIGs and other modes of nicotine delivery.

When all else fails: extracorporeal life support in therapy-refractory cardiogenic shock.

OBJECTIVES: No guidelines for mechanical circulatory support in patients with therapy-refractory cardiogenic shock and multiorgan failure including ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) exist. To achieve immediate cardiopulmonary stabilization, we established an interdisciplinary concept with on-site percutaneous extracorporeal life support (ECLS) implantation. METHODS: From February 2012 to November 2014, 96 patients were deemed eligible for ECLS implantation. Establishing ECLS was successful in 87 patients (mean age 54 ± 13 years, 16% female, initial flow 4.4 ± 0.9 l/min). Aetiologies included acute coronary syndromes (n = 52, 60%), cardiomyopathies (n = 25, 29%) and other pathologies. Fifty-nine patients (68%) had been resuscitated, and in 27 (31%), implantation was performed during CPR; 11 patients (13%) were awake at implantation and 20 (23%) underwent implantation in the referring hospital. RESULTS: Metabolic parameters differed in non-survivors versus survivors before ECLS implantation (pH 7.15 ± 0.23 vs. 7.27 ± 0.18, P = 0.007; lactate levels 10.90 ± 6.00 mmol/l vs. 8.79 ± 5.78 mmol/l, P = 0.091) and 6 h postimplantation (pH 7.27 ± 0.11 vs. 7.37 ± 0.11, P < 0.001; lactate levels 10.19 ± 5.52 mmol/l vs. 5.52 ± 4.17 mmol/l, P < 0.001). Altogether 44 patients could be weaned, and 9 were bridged to assist device implantation and 1 to heart transplantation. The mean time of support was 6 days, and the 30-day survival rate was 47% (n = 41). CONCLUSIONS: ECLS serves as a bridge-to-decision and bridge-to-treatment device. Our interdisciplinary ECLS programme achieved acceptable survival of critically ill patients despite a substantial percentage of patients having been resuscitated and no absolute exclusion criteria. Further studies defining inclusion- and exclusion criteria might additionally improve outcome.

The relevance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging in diagnosing prosthetic graft infections post cardiac and proximal thoracic aortic surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis of prosthetic graft infection after cardiac and proximal aortic surgery is a challenge. Besides technical considerations, redo surgery is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis is mandatory. We report on our experience with hybrid 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging, which is increasingly used to diagnose infections in the detection of graft infection after cardiac surgery. METHODS: Twenty-six patients who underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT imaging after cardiac surgery between February 2010 and September 2014 for suspected graft infection were retrospectively analysed (81% male, age 54.3 ± 13.7 years). PET/CT imaging was performed 36.5 ± 70.5 (0.5-300) months after surgery. 2 patients (8%) had undergone aortic valve replacement (concomitant ascending and proximal arch replacement in 1), 1 (4%) aortic root reconstruction, 9 (35%) aortic root replacement (concomitant partial arch in 4, arch replacement and postoperative TEVAR in 1), 2 (8%) ascending aortic and partial arch replacement and 2 (8%) ascending aortic replacement along with frozen elephant trunk. In 10 (38%), more than one previous cardiac surgical procedure had been performed. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were obtained for all patients. If the patients were reoperated on, the final diagnosis was derived from intraoperative findings and/or microbiological results. Otherwise, the longest clinical follow-up available served as a reference. RESULTS: Conventional CT was positive for infection in 13 cases (50%). In 22 (85%), PET was indicative of infection (SUVmax 10.5 ± 4.1). PET did not only confirm true-positive CT results in all but 1 case; in almost 30%, it provided substantial additional diagnostic information in comparison with CT alone. Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified an SUVmax of 7.25 to achieve maximum sensitivity (89%) and specificity (100%) in prediction of infection. Twelve patients (46%) required redo surgery for graft infection; in 1 additional patient (4%), sternal re-fixation was necessary. Furthermore, 2 patients had to be reoperated on for torn-out anastomosis and paraprosthetic perfusion (8%). CONCLUSIONS: PET provides functional data, confirms a CT diagnosis and may even increase diagnostic sensitivity in comparison with CT alone in selected cases. Specificity can be compromised by postoperative changes or chronic inflammatory reactions induced by the graft. CT and/or echocardiography should remain the first diagnostic step in case of a suspected infection because of their broad and fast availability. If confirmation is needed or diagnosis is not achievable using conventional methods, PET might be chosen as the next modality to gain additional information in experienced centres.

Diagnosis of coronary affection in patients with AADA and treatment of postcardiotomy myocardial failure using extracorporeal life support (ECLS).

BACKGROUND: Myocardial ischemia due to concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) or coronary dissection in patients with acute aortic dissection type Stanford A (AADA) is associated with myocardial failure and poor outcomes. Preoperative coronary angiography in this group of patients is still debated. The use of CT scan to diagnose coronary affection along with the establishment of high-pitched dual-spiral CT protocols are essential for improving outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed six AADA patients with heart failure who were treated using extracorporeal life support (ECLS). Options for diagnosing coronary affection and different therapeutic strategies for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock in this patient cohort are discussed. RESULTS: Retrospective review of CT images showed coronary abnormalities in 83% (n=5). Four patients (67%) underwent unplanned coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). ECLS was instituted in 67% (n=4) due to left heart failure and in 33% (n=2) due to right heart failure. Thirty day mortality was 67% (n=4). The two patients that received ECLS for right ventricular support survived and both had undergone CABG. CONCLUSION: Besides preoperative evaluation of the extent of the dissection, focus on coronary affection in CT-scans helps to triage the operative procedure. Hybrid operating rooms allow for immediate interventional and/or surgical treatment and enable for immediate control of revascularization results. The use of ECLS over other types of ventricular support systems may allow for myocardial recovery in selected cases.