Increasing sweep gas flow reduces respiratory drive and dyspnea in non-intubated veno-arterial ECMO patients - a pilot study.

BACKGROUND.: Data on assessment and management of dyspnea in patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for cardiogenic shock are lacking. We hypothesized that increasing sweep gas flow through the VA-ECMO oxygenator may decrease dyspnea in non-intubated VA-ECMO patients exhibiting clinically significant dyspnea, with a parallel reduction in respiratory drive. METHODS.: Non-intubated, spontaneously breathing, supine patients on VA-ECMO for cardiogenic shock who presented with a visual analog dyspnea scale (dyspnea-VAS) ≥ 40/100 mm were included. Sweep gas flow was increased up to +6 L/min by three steps of +2 L/min each. Dyspnea was assessed with dyspnea-VAS and Multidimensional Dyspnea Profile. The respiratory drive was assessed by the electromyographic activity of the alae nasi and parasternal muscles. RESULTS.: We included 21 patients. On inclusion, median dyspnea-VAS was 50 ([interquartile range] 45-60) mm and sweep gas flow was 1.0 L/min (0.5-2.0). An increase in sweep gas flow significantly decreased dyspnea-VAS (50[45-60] at baseline vs 20[10-30] at 6L/min; p<0.001). The decrease in dyspnea was greater for the sensory component of dyspnea (-50%[43-75]) than for the affective and emotional components (-17%[0-25] and -12%[0-17], p<0.001). An increase in sweep gas flow significantly decreased electromyographic activity of the alae nasi and parasternal muscles (-23%[36-10] and -20[41-0], p<0.001). There was a significant correlation between the sweep gas flow and the dyspnea-VAS (r=-0.91 95%CI[-0.94, -0.87]), between the respiratory drive and the sensory component of dyspnea (r=0.29 95%CI[0.13, 0.44]), between the respiratory drive and the affective component of dyspnea (r=0.29 95%CI[0.02, 0.54]) and between the sweep gas flow and the alae nasi and parasternal (r=-0.31 95%CI[-0.44, -0.22] and r=-0.25 95%CI[-0.44, -0.16]). CONCLUSION.: In critically ill patients with VA-ECMO, an increase in sweep gas flow through the oxygenation membrane decreases dyspnea, possibly mediated by a decrease in respiratory drive.

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in immunocompromised patients with cardiogenic shock: a cohort study and propensity-weighted analysis.

PURPOSE: The outcomes of immunocompromised patients with cardiogenic shock treated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) are seldom documented, making ECMO candidacy decisions challenging. This study aims (1) to report outcomes of immunocompromised patients treated with VA-ECMO, (2) to identify pre-ECMO predictors of 90-day mortality, (3) to assess the impact of immunodepression on 90-day mortality, and (4) to describe the main ECMO-related complications. METHODS: This is a retrospective, propensity-weighted study conducted in two French experienced ECMO centers. RESULTS: From January 2006 to January 2022, 177 critically ill immunocompromised patients (median (interquartile range, IQR) age 49 (32-60) years) received VA-ECMO. The main causes of immunosuppression were long-term corticosteroids/immunosuppressant treatment (29%), hematological malignancy (26%), solid organ transplant (20%), and solid tumor (13%). Overall 90-day and 1-year mortality were 70% (95% confidence interval (CI) 63-77%) and 75% (95% CI 65-79%), respectively. Older age and higher pre-ECMO lactate were independently associated with 90-day mortality. Across immunodepression causes, 1-year mortality ranged from 58% for patients with infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or asplenia, to 89% for solid organ transplant recipients. Hemorrhagic and infectious complications affected 39% and 54% of patients, while more than half the stay in intensive care unit (ICU) was spent on antibiotics. In a propensity score-weighted model comparing the 177 patients with 942 non-immunocompromised patients experiencing cardiogenic shock on VA-ECMO, immunocompromised status was independently associated with a higher 90-day mortality (odds ratio 2.53, 95% CI 1.72-3.79). CONCLUSION: Immunocompromised patients undergoing VA-ECMO treatment face an unfavorable prognosis, with higher 90-day mortality compared to non-immunocompromised patients. This underscores the necessity for thorough evaluation and careful selection of ECMO candidates within this frail population.

Diagnostic yield, safety and therapeutic consequences of myocardial biopsy in clinically suspected fulminant myocarditis unweanable from mechanical circulatory support.

BACKGROUND: Fulminant myocarditis is a rare and severe disease whose definite and etiological diagnoses rely on pathological examination. Albeit, myocardial biopsy can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality, its therapeutic consequences are unclear. We conducted a study to determine the diagnostic yield, the safety and the therapeutic consequences of myocardial biopsy in patients with fulminant clinically suspected myocarditis unweanable from mechanical circulatory support (MCS). METHODS: Monocenter, retrospective, observational cohort study in a 26-bed French tertiary ICU between January 2002 and February 2019. Inclusion of all fulminant clinically suspected myocarditis patients undergoing in-ICU myocardial biopsy while being on MCS. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients classified as definite myocarditis using Bonaca criteria before and after including myocardial biopsy results. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients (median age 41 [30-47], female 53%) were included: 55% died before hospital discharge, 34% could be bridged-to-recovery and 15% bridged-to-transplant. Myocardial biopsy was endomyocardial or surgical in 36% and 64% cases respectively. Tamponade requiring emergency pericardiocentesis occurred in 29% patients after endomyocardial biopsy. After adding the biopsy results in the Bonaca classification algorithm the percentage of definite myocarditis raised from 13 to 55% (p < 0.0001). The rate of biopsy-related treatments modifications was 13%, leading to patients' recovery in only 4% patients. CONCLUSIONS: In clinically suspected myocarditis unweanable from MCS, myocardial biopsy increased the rate of definite myocarditis but was associated with a low rate of treatment modification and a significant proportion of adverse events. We believe the benefit/risk ratio of myocardial biopsy should be more carefully weighted in these frail and selected patients than suggested by actual guidelines. Further prospective studies are now needed to determine its value in patients under MCS.

Heart transplantation as salvage treatment of intractable infective endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: For infective endocarditis (IE) with extensive perivalvular lesions or end-stage cardiac failure, heart transplantation (HT) may be the last resort. METHODS: We retrospectively collected all cases of HT for IE within the International Collaboration on Endocarditis (ICE) network. RESULTS: Between 1991 and 2021, 20 patients (5 women, 15 men), median age 50 years [interquartile range, 29-61], underwent HT for IE in Spain (n = 9), France (n = 6), Switzerland (n = 2), Colombia, Croatia, and USA (n = 1). IE affected prosthetic (n = 10), and native valves (n = 10), primarily aortic (n = 11) and mitral (n = 6). The main pathogens were oral streptococci (n = 8), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 5), and Enterococcus faecalis (n = 2). The major complications included heart failure (n = 18), peri-annular abscess (n = 10), and prosthetic valve dehiscence (n = 4). Eighteen patients had previous cardiac surgery for this episode of IE, and four were on circulatory support before HT (left ventricular assist-device and extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation, 2 patients each). The median time interval between first symptoms of IE and HT was 44.5 days [22-91.5]. The main post-HT complication was acute rejection (n = 6). Seven patients died (35%), four during the first month post-HT. Thirteen (81%) of the 16 patients discharged from the hospital survived with a median follow-up of 35.5 months [4-96.5] after HT, and no relapse of IE. CONCLUSIONS: IE is not an absolute contraindication for HT: Our case series and the literature review support that HT may be considered as a salvage treatment in highly-selected patients with intractable IE.

Abatacept/Ruxolitinib and Screening for Concomitant Respiratory Muscle Failure to Mitigate Fatality of Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitor Myocarditis.

Immune-checkpoint-inhibitor (ICI)-associated myotoxicity involves the heart (myocarditis) and skeletal muscles (myositis), which frequently occur concurrently and are highly fatal. We report the results of a strategy that included identification of individuals with severe ICI myocarditis by also screening for and managing concomitant respiratory muscle involvement with mechanical ventilation, as well as treatment with the CTLA4 fusion protein abatacept and the JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib. Forty cases with definite ICI myocarditis were included with pathologic confirmation of concomitant myositis in the majority of patients. In the first 10 patients, using recommended guidelines, myotoxicity-related fatality occurred in 60%, consistent with historical controls. In the subsequent 30 cases, we instituted systematic screening for respiratory muscle involvement coupled with active ventilation and treatment using ruxolitinib and abatacept. The abatacept dose was adjusted using CD86 receptor occupancy on circulating monocytes. The myotoxicity-related fatality rate was 3.4% (1/30) in these 30 patients versus 60% in the first quartile (P < 0.0001). These clinical results are hypothesis-generating and need further evaluation. SIGNIFICANCE: Early management of respiratory muscle failure using mechanical ventilation and high-dose abatacept with CD86 receptor occupancy monitoring combined with ruxolitinib may be promising to mitigate high fatality rates in severe ICI myocarditis. See related commentary by Dougan, p. 1040. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1027.

Cardiac adipose tissue volume assessed by computed tomography is a specific and independent predictor of early mortality and critical illness in COVID-19 in type 2-diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with type 2-diabetes mellitus (T2D), are characterized by visceral and ectopic adipose tissue expansion, leading to systemic chronic low-grade inflammation. As visceral adiposity is associated with severe COVID-19 irrespective of obesity, we aimed to evaluate and compare the predictive value for early intensive care or death of three fat depots (cardiac, visceral and subcutaneous) using computed tomography (CT) at admission for COVID-19 in consecutive patients with and without T2D. METHODS: Two hundred and two patients admitted for COVID-19 were retrospectively included between February and June 2020 and distributed in two groups: T2D or non-diabetic controls. Chest CT with cardiac (CATi), visceral (VATi) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SATi) volume measurements were performed at admission. The primary endpoint was a composite outcome criteria including death or ICU admission at day 21 after admission. Threshold values of adipose tissue components predicting adverse outcome were determined. RESULTS: One hundred and eight controls [median age: 76(IQR:59-83), 61% male, median BMI: 24(22-27)] and ninety-four T2D patients [median age: 70(IQR:61-77), 70% male, median BMI: 27(24-31)], were enrolled in this study. At day 21 after admission, 42 patients (21%) had died from COVID-19, 48 (24%) required intensive care and 112 (55%) were admitted to a conventional care unit (CMU). In T2D, CATi was associated with early death or ICU independently from age, sex, BMI, dyslipidemia, CRP and coronary calcium (CAC). (p = 0.005). Concerning T2D patients, the cut-point for CATi was > 100 mL/m2 with a sensitivity of 0.83 and a specificity of 0.50 (AUC = 0.67, p = 0.004) and an OR of 4.71 for early ICU admission or mortality (p = 0.002) in the fully adjusted model. Other adipose tissues SATi or VATi were not significantly associated with early adverse outcomes. In control patients, age and male sex (OR = 1.03, p = 0.04) were the only predictors of ICU or death. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac adipose tissue volume measured in CT at admission was independently predictive of early intensive care or death in T2D patients with COVID-19 but not in non-diabetics. Such automated CT measurement could be used in routine in diabetic patients presenting with moderate to severe COVID-19 illness to optimize individual management and prevent critical evolution.

Phenotypic Heterogeneity of Fulminant COVID-19--Related Myocarditis in Adults.

BACKGROUND: Adults who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 can develop a multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-A), including fulminant myocarditis. Yet, several patients fail to meet MIS-A criteria, suggesting the existence of distinct phenotypes in fulminant COVID-19-related myocarditis. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to compare the characteristics and clinical outcome between patients with fulminant COVID-19-related myocarditis fulfilling MIS-A criteria (MIS-A+) or not (MIS-A-). METHODS: A monocentric retrospective analysis of consecutive fulminant COVID-19-related myocarditis in a 26-bed intensive care unit (ICU). RESULTS: Between March 2020 and June 2021, 38 patients required ICU admission (male 66%; mean age 32 ± 15 years) for suspected fulminant COVID-19-related myocarditis. In-ICU treatment for organ failure included dobutamine 79%, norepinephrine 60%, mechanical ventilation 50%, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation 42%, and renal replacement therapy 29%. In-hospital mortality was 13%. Twenty-five patients (66%) met the MIS-A criteria. MIS-A- patients compared with MIS-A+ patients were characterized by a shorter delay between COVID-19 symptoms onset and myocarditis, a lower left ventricular ejection fraction, and a higher rate of in-ICU organ failure, and were more likely to require mechanical circulatory support with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (92% vs 16%; P < 0.0001). In-hospital mortality was higher in MIS-A- patients (31% vs 4%). MIS-A+ had higher circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-22, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), whereas MIS-A- had higher interferon-α2 (IFN-α2) and IL-8 levels. RNA polymerase III autoantibodies were present in 7 of 13 MIS-A- patients (54%) but in none of the MIS-A+ patients. CONCLUSION: MIS-A+ and MIS-A- fulminant COVID-19-related myocarditis patients have 2 distinct phenotypes with different clinical presentations, prognosis, and immunological profiles. Differentiating these 2 phenotypes is relevant for patients' management and further understanding of their pathophysiology.

Prevalence, Characteristics, and Outcomes of COVID-19-Associated Acute Myocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocarditis (AM) is thought to be a rare cardiovascular complication of COVID-19, although minimal data are available beyond case reports. We aim to report the prevalence, baseline characteristics, in-hospital management, and outcomes for patients with COVID-19-associated AM on the basis of a retrospective cohort from 23 hospitals in the United States and Europe. METHODS: A total of 112 patients with suspected AM from 56 963 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were evaluated between February 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021. Inclusion criteria were hospitalization for COVID-19 and a diagnosis of AM on the basis of endomyocardial biopsy or increased troponin level plus typical signs of AM on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. We identified 97 patients with possible AM, and among them, 54 patients with definite/probable AM supported by endomyocardial biopsy in 17 (31.5%) patients or magnetic resonance imaging in 50 (92.6%). We analyzed patient characteristics, treatments, and outcomes among all COVID-19-associated AM. RESULTS: AM prevalence among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was 2.4 per 1000 hospitalizations considering definite/probable and 4.1 per 1000 considering also possible AM. The median age of definite/probable cases was 38 years, and 38.9% were female. On admission, chest pain and dyspnea were the most frequent symptoms (55.5% and 53.7%, respectively). Thirty-one cases (57.4%) occurred in the absence of COVID-19-associated pneumonia. Twenty-one (38.9%) had a fulminant presentation requiring inotropic support or temporary mechanical circulatory support. The composite of in-hospital mortality or temporary mechanical circulatory support occurred in 20.4%. At 120 days, estimated mortality was 6.6%, 15.1% in patients with associated pneumonia versus 0% in patients without pneumonia (P=0.044). During hospitalization, left ventricular ejection fraction, assessed by echocardiography, improved from a median of 40% on admission to 55% at discharge (n=47; P<0.0001) similarly in patients with or without pneumonia. Corticosteroids were frequently administered (55.5%). CONCLUSIONS: AM occurrence is estimated between 2.4 and 4.1 out of 1000 patients hospitalized for COVID-19. The majority of AM occurs in the absence of pneumonia and is often complicated by hemodynamic instability. AM is a rare complication in patients hospitalized for COVID-19, with an outcome that differs on the basis of the presence of concomitant pneumonia.

Fulminant myocarditis in adults: a narrative review.

Fulminant myocarditis (FM) is an uncommon syndrome characterized by sudden and severe hemodynamic compromise secondary to acute myocardial inflammation, often presenting as profound cardiogenic shock, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and/or electrical storm. FM may be refractory to conventional therapies and require mechanical circulatory support (MCS). The immune system has been recognized as playing a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of myocarditis, leading to an increased focus on immunosuppressive treatment strategies. Recent data have highlighted not only the fact that FM has significantly worse outcomes than non-FM, but that prognosis and management strategies of FM are heavily dependent on histological subtype, placing greater emphasis on the role of endomyocardial biopsy in diagnosis. The impact of subtype on severity and prognosis will likewise influence how aggressively the myocarditis is managed, including whether MCS is warranted. Many patients with refractory cardiogenic shock secondary to FM end up requiring MCS, with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation demonstrating favorable survival rates, particularly when initiated prior to the development of multiorgan failure. Among the challenges facing the field are the need to more precisely identify immunopathophysiological pathways in order to develop targeted therapies, and the need to better optimize the timing and management of MCS to minimize complications and maximize outcomes.

Systematic analysis of drug-associated myocarditis reported in the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database.

While multiple pharmacological drugs have been associated with myocarditis, temporal trends and overall mortality have not been reported. Here we report the spectrum and main features of 5108 reports of drug-induced myocarditis, in a worldwide pharmacovigilance analysis, comprising more than 21 million individual-case-safety reports from 1967 to 2020. Significant association between myocarditis and a suspected drug is assessed using disproportionality analyses, which use Bayesian information component estimates. Overall, we identify 62 drugs associated with myocarditis, 41 of which are categorized into 5 main pharmacological classes: antipsychotics (n = 3108 reports), salicylates (n = 340), antineoplastic-cytotoxics (n = 190), antineoplastic-immunotherapies (n = 538), and vaccines (n = 790). Thirty-eight (61.3%) drugs were not previously reported associated with myocarditis. Antipsychotic was the first (1979) and most reported class (n = 3018). In 2019, the two most reported classes were antipsychotics (54.7%) and immunotherapies (29.5%). Time-to-onset between treatment start and myocarditis is 15 [interquartile range: 10; 23] days. Subsequent mortality is 10.3% and differs between drug classes with immunotherapies the highest, 32.5% and salicylates the lowest, 2.6%. These elements highlight the diversity of presentations of myocarditis depending on drug class, and show the emerging role of antineoplastic drugs in the field of drug-induced myocarditis.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with postoperative Candida versus bacterial mediastinitis: a case-matched comparative study.

OBJECTIVES: Postoperative mediastinitis, a feared complication after cardiac surgery, is associated with high mortality, especially of critically ill patients. Candida species infections are rare and severe, with poorly known outcomes. We conducted a case-control study to describe the characteristics, management and outcomes of patients with postoperative Candida mediastinitis. METHODS: This French, monocentre, retrospective study included all patients with postoperative Candida mediastinitis (January 2003-February 2020) requiring intensive care unit admission. Candida mediastinitis patients (henceforth cases) were matched 1:1 with postoperative bacterial mediastinitis (henceforth control), based on 3 factors during mediastinitis management: age >40 years, cardiac transplantation and invasive circulatory device used. The primary end point was the probability of survival within 1 year after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. RESULTS: Forty cases were matched to 40 controls. The global male/female ratio was 2.1, with mean age at admission 47.9 ± 13.8 years. Candida species were: 67.5% albicans, 17.5% glabrata, 15% parapsilosis, 5.0% tropicalis, 2.5% krusei and 2.5% lusitaniae. The median duration of mechanical ventilation was 23, 68.8% of patients received renal replacement therapy and 62.5% extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. The probability of survival within the first year after ICU admission was 40 ± 5.5% and was significantly lower for cases than for controls (43 ± 8% vs 80 ± 6.3%, respectively; Log-rank test: P < 0.0001). The multivariable Cox proportional hazards model retained only renal replacement therapy [hazard ratio (HR) 3.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-13.1; P = 0.04] and Candida mediastinitis (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.6; P = 0.04) as independently associated with 1-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Candida mediastinitis is a serious event after cardiac surgery and independently associated with 1-year mortality. Further studies are needed to determine whether deaths are directly attributable to Candida mediastinitis.

Prone positioning monitored by electrical impedance tomography in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome on veno-venous ECMO.

BACKGROUND: Prone positioning (PP) during veno-venous ECMO is feasible, but its physiological effects have never been thoroughly evaluated. Our objectives were to describe, through electrical impedance tomography (EIT), the impact of PP on global and regional ventilation, and optimal PEEP level. METHODS: A monocentric study conducted on ECMO-supported severe ARDS patients, ventilated in pressure-controlled mode, with 14-cmH2O driving pressure and EIT-based "optimal PEEP". Before, during and after a 16-h PP session, EIT-based distribution and variation of tidal impedance, VTdorsal/VTglobal ratio, end-expiratory lung impedance (EELI) and static compliance were collected. Subgroup analyses were performed in patients who increased their static compliance by ≥ 3 mL/cmH2O after 16 h of PP. RESULTS: For all patients (n = 21), tidal volume and EELI were redistributed from ventral to dorsal regions during PP. EIT-based optimal PEEP was significantly lower in PP than in supine position. Median (IQR) optimal PEEP decreased from 14 (12-16) to 10 (8-14) cmH2O. Thirteen (62%) patients increased their static compliance by ≥ 3 mL/cmH2O after PP on ECMO. This subgroup had higher body mass index, more frequent viral pneumonia, shorter ECMO duration, and lower baseline VTdorsal/VTglobal ratio than patients with compliance ≤ 3 mL/cmH2O (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Although baseline tidal volume distribution on EIT may predict static compliance improvement after PP on ECMO, our results support physiological benefits of PP in all ECMO patients, by modifying lung mechanics and potentially reducing VILI. Further studies, including a randomized-controlled trial, are now warranted to confirm potential PP benefits during ECMO.

Mechanical circulatory support with the Impella 5.0 and the Impella Left Direct pumps for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock at La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: Postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) is associated with high mortality rates of 50-80%. Although veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has been used as mechanical circulatory support in patients with PCCS, it is associated with a high rate of complications and poor quality of life. The Impella 5.0 and Impella Left Direct (LD) (Impella 5.0/LD) are minimally invasive left ventricular assist devices that provide effective haemodynamic support resulting in left ventricular unloading and systemic perfusion. Our goal was to describe the outcome of patients with PCCS supported with the Impella 5.0/LD at La Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients supported with the Impella 5.0/LD for PCCS between December 2010 and June 2015. Survival outcome and in-hospital complications were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients (63 ± 14 years, 17% women) with PCCS were supported with the Impella 5.0/LD. At baseline, 69% experienced chronic heart failure, 66% had dilated cardiomyopathy and 57% had valvular disease. The mean EuroSCORE II was 22 ± 17 and the ejection fraction was 28 ± 11%. Most of the patients underwent isolated valve surgery (45%) or isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (38%). The mean duration of Impella support was 9 ± 7 days. Weaning from the Impella was successful in 72.4%, and 58.6% survived to discharge. Recovery of native heart function was observed in 100% of discharged patients. Survival to 30 days and to 1 year from Impella implant was 58.6% and 51.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Impella 5.0 and the Impella LD represent an excellent treatment option for critically ill patients with PCCS and are associated with favourable survival outcome and native heart recovery.

Ultra-Protective Ventilation Reduces Biotrauma in Patients on Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Ventilator settings for patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome supported by venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation are currently set arbitrarily. The impact on serum and pulmonary biotrauma markers of the transition to ultra-protective ventilation settings following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation implantation, and different mechanical ventilation strategies while on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were investigated. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTINGS: Nine-month monocentric study. PATIENTS: Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. INTERVENTIONS: After starting extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, patients were switched to the bi-level positive airway pressure mode with 1 second of 24 cm H2O high pressure and 2 seconds of 12 cm H2O low pressure for 24 hours. A computer-generated allocation sequence randomized patients to receive each of the following three experimental steps: 1) high pressure 24 cm H2O and low pressure 20 cm H2O (very high positive end-expiratory pressure-very low driving pressure); 2) high pressure 24 cm H2O and low pressure 5 cm H2O (low positive end-expiratory pressure-high driving pressure); and 3) high pressure 17 cm H2O and low pressure 5 cm H2O (low positive end-expiratory pressure-low driving pressure). Plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products, plasma interleukin-6, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 were sampled preextracorporeal membrane oxygenation and after 12 hours at each step. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sixteen patients on ECMO after 7 days (1-11 d) of mechanical ventilation were included. "Ultra-protective" mechanical ventilation settings following ECMO initiation were associated with significantly lower plasma sRAGE, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 concentrations. Plasma sRAGE and cytokines were comparable within each on-ECMO experimental step, but the lowest bronchoalveolar lavage sRAGE levels were obtained at minimal driving pressure. CONCLUSIONS: ECMO allows ultra- protective ventilation, which combines significantly lower plateau pressure, tidalvolume, and driving pressure. This ventilation strategy significantly limited pulmonary biotrauma, which couldtherefore decrease ventilator-induced lung injury. However, the optimal ultra-protective ventilation strategy once ECMO is initiated remains undetermined and warrants further investigations. (Crit Care Med 2019; 47:1505-1512).

Transvenous Renal Biopsy of Critically Ill Patients: Safety and Diagnostic Yield.

OBJECTIVES: Transvenous renal biopsy is an alternative way to obtain kidney samples from patients with bleeding risk factors (e.g., antiplatelet therapy and anticoagulation or coagulation disorders). This study was undertaken to determine the safety and diagnostic yield of transvenous renal biopsy of critically ill patients. DESIGN: Monocenter, retrospective, observational cohort study. SETTING: A 26-bed French tertiary ICU. PATIENTS: All patients undergoing in-ICU transvenous renal biopsy between January 2002 and February 2018. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Eighty patients (male/female sex ratio, 0.95; mean ± SD age, 47.3 ± 18.3 yr) were included. A histologic diagnosis was obtained for 77 patients (96.3%), with acute tubular necrosis being the most frequent: 23 (29.9%). A potentially treatable cause was found for 47 patients (58.7%). The numbers of patients with 0, 1, 2, or 3 factors (i.e., antiplatelet therapy, thrombopenia [< 150 G/L], and preventive or curative anticoagulation) at the time of the biopsy were, respectively: seven (8.8%), 37 (46.2%), 31 (38.7%), and five (6.3%). Four (5%) and two (2.5%) patients, respectively, had renal hematoma and macroscopic hematuria; none required any specific treatment. Six patients (7.5%) died in-ICU, and 90-day mortality was 8 of 80 (10%). No death was related to transvenous renal biopsy, and median biopsy-to-death interval was 38 days (interquartile range, 19.7-86 d). CONCLUSIONS: Based on this cohort of ICU patients with acute kidney injury, transvenous renal biopsy was safe and obtained a high diagnostic yield for these selected critically ill patients, even in the presence of multiple bleeding risk factors.

Impact of Fetuin-A on progression of calcific aortic valve stenosis - The COFRASA - GENERAC study.

BACKGROUND: Aortic stenosis (AS) is an active disease, but the determinants of AS progression remain largely unknown. Low levels of Fetuin-A, a powerful inhibitor of ectopic calcification, have been linked to ectopic calcium tissue deposition but its role in AS progression has not been clearly evaluated. METHODS: In our ongoing prospective cohort (COFRASA/GENERAC), serum Fetuin-A level was measured at baseline and AS severity was evaluated at baseline and yearly thereafter using echocardiography (mean pressure gradient (MPG)) and computed tomography (degree of aortic valve calcification (AVC)). Annual progression was calculated as [(final measurement-baseline measurement)/follow-up duration] for both MPG and AVC measurements. RESULTS: We enrolled 296 patients (74 ±â€¯10 years,73% men); mean follow-up duration was 3.0 ±â€¯1.7 years. No correlation was found between baseline serum Fetuin-A (0.55 ±â€¯0.15 g/L) and baseline AS severity (r = 0.25, p = 0.87 for MPG; r = 0.06, p = 0.36 for AVC). More importantly, there was no correlation between baseline serum Fetuin-A level and AS progression either assessed using MPG or AVC (both r = 0.01, p = 0.82). In bivariate analysis, after adjustment for age, gender, baseline AS severity, or valve anatomy, Fetuin-A was not associated with AS progression (all p > 0.20). The absence of link with AS progression was further confirmed by the absence of link betwen serum Fetuin-A and the occurrence of AS-related events (p = 0.17). CONCLUSIONS: In a large prospective cohort of AS patients, serum Fetuin-A was not associated to hemodynamic or anatomic AS progression. Despite its capacity to inhibit ectopic calcium deposition, Fetuin-A serum level seemed to have minor influence on AS progression.

Antibody-mediated rejection induced cardiogenic shock: Too late for conventional therapy.

BACKGROUND: Data are scarce on the prognosis of heart allograft antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) with cardiogenic shock (CS). METHODS: We performed a retrospective, single center, observational study. We included patients with biopsy-proven AMR and CS. We aimed to analyze the characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of patients treated for CS due to AMR. Patients alive after AMR were followed to analyze recurrences of AMR, graft function, and cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). RESULTS: Seventeen patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients were mostly males (70%). Median age at diagnosis was 56 years, and median time between heart transplantation and AMR was 21 months. AMR was mostly due to high-level de novo class II DSA. Only 2 patients had past history of biopsy-proven AMR. Despite aggressive immunosuppressive therapies, in-hospital and 1-year mortality were as high as 76% and 82%, respectively. Four patients were discharged from hospital. Two of them were diagnosed with recurrent subclinical AMR: one died suddenly and the other presented rapidly progressive CAV. CONCLUSION: CS due to AMR occurred mostly in patients without history of AMR who developed de novo class II DSA. Despite aggressive conventional immunosuppressive therapies, prognosis after CS due to AMR was poor.

Extensive Myocardial Calcification in Critically Ill Patients.

OBJECTIVES: To describe an unusual complication on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. DATA SOURCES: Clinical observation. STUDY SELECTION: Case report. DATA EXTRACTION: Relevant clinical information. DATA SYNTHESIS: We report the cases of three young patients who developed extensive myocardial calcifications on prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome with septic cardiomyopathy, postresuscitation cardiogenic shock, and septic shock complicating severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, respectively. Extensive myocardial calcifications were confirmed by echocardiography, CT, and cardiac biopsy. The combination of multiple factors, for example, prolonged hemodynamic failure, profound acidosis, high vasopressor doses, and renal failure, may lead to this unusual and severe complication. CONCLUSIONS: Intensivists should be aware of this rare but rapid complication on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support that may directly impact outcome. The precise role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in the timing and frequency of new-onset diffuse myocardial calcification deserves further investigation.