Improving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Survival in COVID-19. Effect of a Bundle of Care.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our program changed the model of care pursuing to protect the multidisciplinary team from the risk of infection and to serve as many patients as possible. Patient-healthcare interactions were restricted, and the ECMO bed capacity was increased by reducing the ECMO specialist-patient ratio to 1:4 with non-ECMO trained nurses support. The outcomes worsened and we paused while we evaluated and modified our model of care. The ECMO bed capacity was reduced to allow a nurse ECMO-specialist nurse ratio 2:1 with an ECMO trained nurse assistant's support. Intensivists, general practitioners, nurse assistants, and physical and respiratory therapists were trained on ECMO. Tracheostomy, bronchoscopy, and microbiological molecular diagnosis were done earlier, and family visits and rehabilitation were allowed in the first 48 hours of ECMO cannulation. There were 35 patients in the preintervention cohort and 66 in the postintervention cohort. Ninety days mortality was significantly lower after the intervention (62.9% vs. 31.8%, p = 0.003). Factors associated with increased risk of death were the need for cannulation or conversion to veno arterial or veno arterio venous ECMO, hemorrhagic stroke, and renal replacement therapy during ECMO. The interventions associated with a decrease in the risk of death were the following: early fiberoptic bronchoscopy and microbiological molecular diagnostic tests. Increasing the ECMO multidisciplinary team in relation to the number of patients and the earlier performance of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, such as tracheostomy, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, molecular microbiological diagnosis of pneumonia, rehabilitation, and family support significantly decreased mortality of patients on ECMO due to COVID-19.

Experience with veno-venous ecmo in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome secondary to viral pneumonia. Case series / Experiencia con ecmo veno-venoso en pacientes con síndrome de dificultad respiratoria del adulto secundario a neumonía viral. Serie de casos

Abstract Introduction The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has increased exponentially in recent years and has shown to be effective in treating adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to HiNi-related pneumonia. However, evidence remains controversial. This study describes a case series of ECMO in ARDS secondary to viral pneumonia. Methods A search was conducted in the ECMO database of Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia for the 20132017 period. A case series report was written of patients diagnosed with ARDS secondary to confirmed or suspected viral pneumonia. Results Nineteen patients with ECMO support and ARDS due to viral pneumonia were included in the study. The survival rate upon discharge was 11 patients (58%) and weaning from ECMO support was successful in 13 patients (68%). Hemorrhagic complications were the most frequent: gastrointestinal bleeding, 10 patients (53%); intracranial bleeding, 2 (10%); alveolar hemorrhage, 2 (10%);' hemothorax requiring thoracostomy with chest tube drainage, 2 (10%); cannulation site bleeding, 9 patients (47%); and surgical site bleeding in 3 patients (25%) who required tracheostomy. Other complications were: pneumothorax, 1 patient (5%); sepsis, 6 patients (32%); and growth of microorganisms in bronchial lavage, 6 patients (32%). Conclusions This study supports the use of veno-venous ECMO to achieve a higher survival rate than expected in patients with severe ARDS and refractory hypoxemia secondary to viral pneumonia. Early initiation of the therapy should improve overall results.

Resumen Introducción El uso de la oxigenación por membrana extracorpórea (ECMO) ha tenido un incremento exponencial en los últimos años y ha demostrado ser efectivo en el manejo del síndrome de dificultad respiratoria del adulto (SDRA) secundario a neumonía por H1N1, si bien la evidencia sigue siendo controvertida. En este estudio describimos una serie de casos de ECMO por SDRA secundario a neumonía viral. Métodos Se realizó una búsqueda en la base de datos de ECMO de la Fundación Cardiovascular desde el año 20132017. Reportamos una serie de casos donde se incluyeron pacientes diagnosticados con SDRA secundario a neumonía viral sospechosa o confirmada. Resultados Se incluyeron en el estudio 19 pacientes con soporte de ECMO y SDRA por neumonía viral. La sobrevida al alta fue 11 pacientes (58%) y el destete del ECMO fue exitoso en 13 pacientes (68%). Las complicaciones hemorrágicas presentadas fueron: sangrado digestivo, 10 pacientes (53%), sangrado cerebral, 2 (10%), hemorragia alveolar, 2 (10%), hemotórax con requerimiento de toracostomía a drenaje cerrado, 2 (10%), sangrado activo por sitio de canulación, 9 pacientes (53%), y 3 pacientes traqueostomizados (25%) que sangraron por el sitio quirúrgico. Otras complicaciones presentadas fueron: neumotórax, 1 paciente (5%), septicemia, 6 (32%) y crecimiento de microorganismos en lavados bronquiales 6 (32%). Conclusion El presente estudio permite indicar que el uso de la ECMO VV viabiliza una sobrevida mayor a la esperada en pacientes con SDRA severo e hipoxemia refractaria secundario a neumonía viral. Su inicio tempranamente debe mejorar los resultados globales.