Potential for organ donation after controlled circulatory death: a retrospective analysis.

Objectives: Despite the discrepancy between demand and availability of organs for transplantation, controlled circulatory death donation has not been implemented in Portugal. This study aimed to estimate the potential increase in organ donation from implementing such a program. Material and Methods: All deceased patients within the intensive care medicine department at Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, throughout the year 2019, were subjected to retrospective analysis. Potential gain was estimated comparing the results with the number of donors and organs collected during the same period at this hospital center. Differences in variables between groups were assessed using t tests for independent samples or Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous variables, and chi-squared tests were used for categorical variables. Results: During 2019, 152 deaths occurred after withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies, 10 of which would have been potentially eligible for donation after controlled circulatory death. We can anticipate a potential increase of 10 prospective donors, a maximum 21% growth in yearly transplantation activity, with a greater impact on kidney transplantation. For most patients, the time between withdrawal of organ support and death surpassed 120 minutes, an outcome explained by variations in withdrawal of life-sustaining measures and insufficient clinical records, underestimating the potential for controlled circulatory arrest donation. Conclusion: This study effectively highlights public health benefits of controlled circulatory arrest donation. Legislation allowing donation through this method represents a social gain and enables patients who will never meet brain death criteria to donate organs as part of the end-of-life process in intensive care medicine, within a framework of complete ethical alignment.

ECMO for drug-refractory electrical storm without a reversible trigger: a retrospective multicentric observational study.

AIMS: Drug-refractory electrical storm (ES) is a life-threatening medical emergency. We describe the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in drug-refractory ES without a reversible trigger, for which specific guideline recommendations are still lacking. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective observational study in four Iberian centres on the indications, treatment, complications, and outcome of drug-refractory ES not associated with acute coronary syndromes, decompensated heart failure, drug toxicity, electrolyte disturbances, endocrine emergencies, concomitant acute illness with fever, or poor compliance with anti-arrhythmic drugs, requiring VA-ECMO for circulatory support. Thirty-four (6%) out of 552 patients with VA-ECMO for cardiogenic shock were included [71% men; 57 (44-62) years], 65% underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation before VA-ECMO implantation, and 26% during cannulation. Left ventricular unloading during VA-ECMO was used in 8 (24%) patients: 3 (9%) with intraaortic balloon pump, 3 (9%) with LV vent, and 2 (6%) with Impella. Thirty (88%) had structural heart disease and 8 (24%) had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. The drug-refractory ES was mostly due to monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) (59%), isolated monomorphic VT (26%), polymorphic VT (9%), or VF (6%). Thirty-one (91%) required deep sedation, 44% overdrive pacing, 36% catheter ablation, and 26% acute autonomic modulation. The main complications were nosocomial infection (47%), bleeding (24%), and limb ischaemia (21%). Eighteen (53%) were weaned from VA-ECMO, and 29% had heart transplantation. Twenty-seven (79%) survived to hospital discharge (48 (33-82) days). Non-survivors were older [62 (58-67) vs. 54 (43-58); P < 0.01] and had a higher first rhythm disorder-to-ECMO interval [0 (0-2) vs. 2 (1-11) days; P = 0.02]. Seven (20%) had rehospitalization during follow-up [29 (12-48) months], with ES recurrence in 6%. CONCLUSIONS: VA-ECMO bridged drug-refractory ES without a reversible trigger with a high success rate. This required prolonged hospital stays and coordination between the ECMO centre, the electrophysiology laboratory, and the heart transplant programme.

Cardiac Tamponade Complicating Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: An Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac tamponade is a potentially life-threatening complication during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). In this study, the authors assessed the incidence, patient characteristics, and risk factors for mortality of cardiac tamponade during ECMO. DESIGN: The authors queried the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry from 1997 to 2021 for all adults with cardiac tamponade as a reported complication during ECMO. PARTICIPANTS: Cardiac tamponade was reported in 2,176 (64% men; 53.8 ± 0.33 years) of 84,430 adults (2.6%). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Venoarterial ECMO was the main configuration (78%), followed by venovenous ECMO (VV ECMO) (18%), for cardiac (67%), pulmonary (21%) support, and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) (12%). Percutaneous cannulation was performed in 51%, with the femoral vein and femoral artery as the most common sites for drainage and return cannulae, with dual-lumen cannulae in 39% of VV ECMO. Hospital survival was lower (35% v 49%; p < 0.01) when compared with that of all adults from the ELSO Registry. In multivariate analysis, age, aortic dissection and/or rupture, COVID-19, ECPR, pre-ECMO renal-replacement therapy, and prone position are associated with hospital mortality, whereas ECMO for pulmonary support is associated with hospital survival. Similarly, renal, cardiovascular, metabolic, neurologic, and pulmonary complications occurred more frequently in nonsurvivors. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac tamponade is a rare complication during ECMO that, despite being potentially reversible, is associated with high hospital mortality. Venoarterial ECMO is the most common configuration. ECMO for pulmonary support was associated with higher survival, and ECPR was associated with higher mortality. In these patients, other ECMO-related complications were frequently reported and associated with hospital mortality.

Standardized approach for extubation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Extubation during extracorporeal oxygenation (ECMO) in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has not been well studied. Despite the potential benefits of this strategy, weaning from ECMO before liberation from invasive mechanical ventilation remains the most frequent approach. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of a standardized approach for extubation during ECMO in patients with severe ARDS. RESULTS: We conducted a prospective observational study to assess the safety and feasibility of a standardized approach for extubation during ECMO in severe ARDS among 254 adult patients across 4 intensive care units (ICU) from 2 tertiary ECMO centers over 6 years. This consisted of a daily assessment of clinical and gas exchange criteria based on an Extracorporeal Life Support Organization guideline, with extubation during ECMO after validation by a dedicated intensive care medicine specialist. Fifty-four (21%) patients were extubated during ECMO, 167 (66%) did not reach the clinical criteria, and in 33 (13%) patients, gas exchange precluded extubation during ECMO. At ECMO initiation, there were fewer extrapulmonary organ dysfunctions (lower SOFA score [OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79-0.98; P = .02] with similar PaO2/FiO2) when compared with patients not extubated during ECMO. Extubation during ECMO associated with shorter duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (7 (4-18) vs. 32 (18-54) days; P < .01) and of ECMO (12 (7-25) vs. 19 (10-41) days; P = .01). This was accompanied by a lower incidence of hemorrhagic shock (2 vs. 11%; P = .05), but more cannula-associated deep vein thrombosis (49 vs. 31%; P = .02) and failed extubation (20 vs. 6%; P < .01). There were no increased major adverse events. Extubation during ECMO is associated with a lower risk of all-cause death, independently of measured confounding (adjusted logistic regression OR 0.23; 95% confidence interval 0.08-0.69, P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: A standardized approach was safe and feasible allowing extubation during ECMO in 21% of patients with severe ARDS, selecting patients who will have a shorter duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, ECMO course, and ICU stay, as well as fewer infectious complications, and high hospital survival.

Cardiac Tamponade Complicating Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Single-Centre Experience.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac tamponade is a potential complication during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). METHOD: This study assessed the incidence, clinical presentation, therapeutic approach, and outcome of cardiac tamponade at a single ECMO centre during a 10-year period. RESULTS: Cardiac tamponade occurred in 11 adults (seven men; age 53 years [range, 48-60]) of 566 patients (1.9%), after 10 days (range, 3-16) of ECMO support: eight veno-venous (VV) and three veno-arterial (VA). Cardiac tamponade was suspected due to haemodynamic deterioration or collapse, and was confirmed by bedside echocardiography. In five of eight VV-ECMO (62%) patients, circulatory arrest ensued and immediate VA-ECMO conversion was performed. Definitive treatment of cardiac tamponade consisted of surgical pericardiotomy in 10 cases: sternotomy (n=8), left minithoracotomy (n=1) and subxiphoid approach (n=1); and pericardiocentesis in one patient. Cardiovascular perforation repair was performed in five patients: two right atrium, two superior vena cava and one pulmonary artery. In the remaining six patients, cardiac tamponade was associated with recent cardiac surgery (n=2), prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n=1), thoracic trauma (n=1), myopericarditis (n=1), and acute myocardial infarction (n=1). Nine (9) patients (82%) were weaned from ECMO (20 days [range, 11-25]) and eight patients (73%) survived intensive care unit (ICU) (29 days [range, 26-61]) and hospital (34 days [range, 29-81]). CONCLUSION: Cardiac tamponade is a rare but life-threatening complication during both VV-ECMO and VA-ECMO. Echocardiography plays a major role in timely diagnosis and treatment. Immediate conversion to VA-ECMO when circulatory collapse ensued and emergency sternotomy for cardiovascular perforation repair gave favourable outcomes in a high proportion of patients.

Early prediction of treatment failure in severe community-acquired pneumonia: The PRoFeSs score.

PURPOSE: To identify a single/panel of biomarkers and to provide a point score that, after 48 h of treatment, could early predict treatment failure at fifth day of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay in severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-center, prospective cohort study of 107 ICU patients with SCAP. Primary outcome included death or absence of improvement in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score by ≥2 points within 5 days of treatment. Biomarkers were evaluated within 12 h of first antibiotic dose (D1) and 48 h after the first assessment (D3). RESULTS: A model based on Charlson's score and a panel of biomarkers (procalcitonin on D1 and D3, B-natriuretic peptide on D1, D-dimer and lactate on D3) had good discrimination for primary outcome in both derivation (AUC 0.82) and validation (AUC 0.76) samples and was well calibrated (X2 = 0.98; df = 1; p = .32). A point score system (PRoFeSs score) built on the estimates of regression coefficients presented good discrimination (AUC 0.81; 95% Confidence Interval 0.72-0.89) for primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In SCAP, a combination of biomarkers measured at admission and 48 h later may early predict treatment failure. PRoFeSs score may recognize patients with poor short-term prognosis.

An integrated program of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation and uncontrolled donation after circulatory determination of death in refractory cardiac arrest.

AIM: To assess the feasibility of an integrated program of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) and uncontrolled donation after circulatory determination of death (uDCDD) in refractory cardiac arrest (rCA). METHODS: Single center, prospective, observational study of selected patients with in-hospital (IHCA) and out-of-hospital (OHCA) rCA occurring in an urban area of ∼1.5 million inhabitants, between October-2016 and May-2018. 65 year old or younger patients without significant bleeding or comorbidities with witnessed nonasystolic cardiac arrests were triaged to ECPR if they had a reversible cause and high quality CPR lasting < 60 min. Otherwise they were considered for uDCDD after a ten minute no touch period using normothermic regional perfusion. RESULTS: 58 patients were included, of which 41 (71%) were OHCA and 18 (31%) had ECPR initiated. Median age was 52 (IQR 45-56) years. Cannulation was successful in 49/58 (84%) cases. Compared to ECPR, patients referred for uDCDD were more frequently OHCA (90 vs. 28%), had bystander CPR (28 vs. 83%) and prolonged low-flow period (40 (35-50) vs. 60 (49-78) min). Survival to hospital discharge with full neurological recovery (cerebral performance category 1) occurred in 6/18 (33%) ECPR patients. uDCDD resulted in transplantation of 44 kidneys. CONCLUSIONS: An integrated program for rCA consisting of a formal pathway to uDCDD referral in ECPR ineligible patients is feasible. ECPR-referred patients had a reasonable survival with full neurologic recovery. Successful kidney transplantation was achieved with uDCDD.

Can we predict pneumococcal bacteremia in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia?

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the role of biomarkers as markers of pneumococcal bacteremia in severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, single-center, observational cohort study of 108 patients with SCAP admitted to the intensive care department of a university hospital in Portugal was conducted. Leucocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate, procalcitonin (PCT), d-dimer, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and cortisol were measured within 12 hours after the first antibiotic dose. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (14%) had bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia (BPP). They had significantly higher levels of median CRP (301 [interquartile range, or IQR], 230-350] mg/L vs 201 [IQR, 103-299] mg/L; P = .023), PCT (40 [IQR, 25-102] ng/mL vs 8 [IQR, 2-26] ng/mL; P < .001), BNP (568 [IQR, 478-2841] pg/mL vs 407 [IQR, 175-989] pg/mL; P = .027), and lactate (5.5 [IQR, 4.5-9.8] mmol/L vs 3.1 [IQR, 1.9-6.2] mmol/L; P = .009) than did patients without BPP. The discriminatory power evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (aROC) for PCT (aROC, 0.79) was superior to lactate (aROC, 0.71), BNP (aROC, 0.67), and CRP (aROC, 0.70). At a cutoff point of 17 ng/mL, PCT showed a sensitivity of 87%, a specificity of 67%, a positive predictive value of 30% and a negative predictive value of 97%, as a marker of pneumococcal bacteremia. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, significantly higher PCT, BNP, lactate, and CRP levels were found in BPP, and PCT presented the best ability to identify pneumococcal bacteremia. A PCT serum level lower than 17 ng/mL could identify patients with SCAP unlikely to have pneumococcal bacteremia.

Portable miniaturized extracorporeal membrane oxygenation systems for H1N1-related severe acute respiratory distress syndrome: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Technological advances improved the practice of "modern" extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). In the present report, we describe the experience of a referral ECMO center using portable miniaturized ECMO systems for H1N1-related severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: An observational study of all patients with H1N1-associated ARDS treated with ECMO in Hospital S. João (Porto, Portugal) between November 2009 and April 2011 was performed. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support was established using either ELS or Cardiohelp systems (Maquet-Cardiopulmonary-AG, Hirrlingen, Germany). RESULTS: Ten adult patients with severe ARDS secondary to H1N1 infection (Pao(2)/fraction of inspired oxygen, 69 mm Hg [56-84]; Murray score, 3.5 [3.5-3.8]) were included, and 60% survived to hospital discharge. Five patients were uneventfully transferred on ECMO from referring hospitals to our center by ambulance. Six patients were treated during the first postpandemic influenza season. All patients were treated with oseltamivir, and 1 received in addition zanamivir. Four patients received corticosteroids. Nosocomial infection was the most common complication (40%). Of the 4 deaths, 2 were caused by hemorrhagic shock; 1, by irreversible multiple organ failure; and 1, by refractory septic shock. CONCLUSION: In our experience, ECMO support was a valuable therapeutic option for H1N1-related severe ARDS. The use of portable miniaturized systems allowed urgent rescue of patients from referring hospitals and safe interhospital and intrahospital transport during ECMO support.