Novel multi-functional life support system.

UNLABELLED: Concepts of cardiopulmonary support (CPS), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and ventricular support (VS) have been thoroughly studied and refined. These perfusion adjuncts often require multiple devices, skill sets, and significant financial burden to purchase, maintain, deploy, and use. We describe a novel system that is rapidly deployable, user-friendly, portable, safe, and economical. Over a 1-year period we have used a multi-functional life support system (MLS) in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, cardiovascular intensive care unit, and cardiac surgical suites. Further, we have conducted multiple transports within the hospital and one to an alternate facility. Applications have included ECMO, cardiopulmonary resuscitation-supported cardiogenic shock, high risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), valvuloplasty, right ventricular assist device transition to ECMO post cardiotomy, left ventricular assist device transition to ECMO, ventricular septal defect closure, and ECMO transition to conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Duration of support has ranged from approximately 39 minutes to several days. KEYWORDS: extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), percutaneous ventricular assist device, cardiopulmonary support, portable cardiopulmonary life support, ventricular assist.

Learning curve in transradial cardiac catheterization: procedure-related parameters stratified by operators' transradial volume.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether radial artery access is associated with a reduction in fluoroscopy time, procedure time, and other procedural variables over a 27-month period during which the radial artery approach was incorporated in a single academic Medical Center. BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between increased volume and decreased procedural time, no studies have looked at the integration of radial access over time. METHODS: Data were collected from consecutive patients who presented to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center cardiac catheterization laboratory from January 1, 2009 to April 1, 2011. Patients who underwent radial access diagnostic catheterization with and without percutaneous coronary intervention were included in this study. A total of 1112 diagnostic cardiac catheterizations through the radial access site were analyzed. High-volume, intermediate-volume, and low-volume operators were grouped based on the percentage of procedures performed through a radial approach. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2011, there was a significant decrease in fluoroscopy time in all operator groups for diagnostic catheterization (P=.035). The high-volume operator group had 1.88 and 3.66 minute reductions in fluoroscopy time compared to the intermediate- and low-volume operator groups, respectively (both P<.001). Likewise, the intermediate-volume operator group had a 1.77 minute improvement compared to the low-volume operator group, but this did not reach statistical significance (P=.102). The improvement in fluoroscopy time and other procedure-related parameters was seen after approximately 25 cases with further improvement after 75 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The incorporation of the radial access approach in the cardiac catheterization laboratory led to a decrease in fluoroscopy time for each operator and operator group over the last 3 years. Our data demonstrated that higher-volume radial operators have better procedure, room, and fluoroscopy times when compared to intermediate- and low-volume operators. However, lower-volume operators have a reduction in procedure-related parameters with increased radial cases. Number of procedures needed to become sufficient was demonstrated in the current study.

Alveolar hemorrhage: an underdiagnosed complication of treatment with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE: Alveolar hemorrhage (AH) is a rare complication of treatment with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors. Hemoptysis, a constant sign, lacks in specificity, and may occur in confounding syndromes such as pulmonary edema, pulmonary infarction, and pneumonia. Nonspecific symptoms and signs often delay the diagnosis, thereby allowing serious or even fatal disease progression. Here, we performed a large-scale retrospective analysis to define the incidence and risk factors of AH in the setting of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors therapy. BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled trials demonstrate that treatment with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP IIb/IIIa) inhibitors may improve the outcome of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and angioplastic procedures. However, this treatment may rarely lead to severe hemorrhagic complications, in particular AH. Unfortunately, the incidence and risk factors of AH remain poorly defined. METHODS: We reviewed for the period extending from August 1998 to January 2005 consecutive histories of AMI patients receiving coronary arteriography and treatment with either eptifibatide or abciximab. Concomitantly admitted AMI patients not treated with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors were reviewed and served as a control group. The diagnosis of AH required the demonstration of typical symptoms and signs including dyspnea, hemoptysis, arterial hypoxemia, pulmonary radiographic changes, and, when available, bronchoscopic signs for AH. Potential covariates including pulmonary disease, pulmonary hypertension, smoking, and use of other anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents were evaluated. RESULTS: Six of 1,810 patients (0.33%) receiving eptifibatide and five of 3,648 patients (0.14%) receiving abciximab exhibited typical symptoms and signs of AH. Contrarily, only one of 4,136 patients (0.025%) receiving no GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors presented with similar symptoms and signs. There was no fatal outcome, though two patients required blood transfusions. Statistically significant differences were found between control patients and patients receiving eptifibatide alone (P = 0.004). There was also a significant difference between untreated patients and those receiving eptifibatide and abciximab (P = 0.017). No differences were found between eptifibatide and abciximab-treated patients (P = 0.19) or between abciximab and untreated control patients (P = 0.105). CONCLUSIONS: AH is a rare complication of treatment with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors. Its incidence ranged from 0.14% in patients treated with abciximab to 0.33% in those receiving eptifibatide. Compared to a control group, patients treated with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors had a statistically increased risk for AH.