Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults and children: A review of literature, published guidelines and pediatric single-center program building experience.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is an adjunct supportive therapy to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR) employing veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in the setting of refractory cardiac arrest. Its use has seen a significant increase in the past decade, providing hope for good functional recovery to patients with cardiac arrest refractory to conventional resuscitation maneuvers. This review paper aims to summarize key findings from the ECPR literature available to date as well as the recommendations for ECPR set forth by leading national and international resuscitation societies. Additionally, we describe the successful pediatric ECPR program at Texas Children's Hospital, highlighting the logistical, technical and educational features of the program.

A multidisciplinary approach to VA ECMO cannulation in children.

PURPOSE: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) supports gas exchange and circulation in critically ill patients. This study describes a multidisciplinary approach to ECMO cannulation using the expertise of pediatric surgery (PS) and interventional radiology (IR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pediatric patients (<18 years) undergoing percutaneous cannulation for peripheral veno-arterial (VA) ECMO by PS and IR from April 2017 to May 2018 were included. Cardiac patients and children cannulated by PS alone were excluded. RESULTS: Five patients were included in the series. Median age was 16 [12.5-17] years and 3 were female. Median ECMO arterial and venous catheter sizes were 19 [17-22] Fr and 25 [25-28] Fr, respectively. Both catheters were placed in the common femoral vessels. A 6Fr antegrade distal perfusion cannula (DPC) was also placed in the superficial femoral artery by IR at the time of cannulation. The median time from admission to procedure start was 10 [7-50] hours and the children were on ECMO for a median length of 3.2 [2.3-4.8] days. There were two episodes of bleeding. No patients had loss of limb circulation. CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary approach to peripheral VA ECMO cannulation is feasible and safe. Maintenance of limb perfusion by percutaneous placement and removal of DPC may be an advantage of this collaborative approach. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV. TYPE OF RESEARCH: Case series.

Use of an Extracorporeal Centrifugal Pump with the Berlin Cannulas.

The Berlin EXCOR ventricular assist device has become a standard treatment in pediatric bridge to transplantation. Despite its increased use in pediatric heart failure, the patient population supported with this technology continues to suffer from hematologic issues such as postoperative hemorrhage and neurologic dysfunction secondary to thrombotic events. Finding a balance between hemorrhagic and thrombotic risks in the acute postoperative period poses a significant challenge. In this report, we describe our approach using a temporary centrifugal pump connected to cannulas designed for the Berlin EXCOR ventricular assist device. We believe that the interim use of an extracorporeal centrifugal pump allows time for hemodynamic stability, limits the hemorrhagic risks, and provides relevant hemodynamic information before conversion to the Berlin EXCOR.

Evaluating quality of life of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation survivors using the pediatric quality of life inventory survey.

PURPOSE: This study assesses the impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) associated morbidities on long-term quality of life (QOL) outcomes. METHODS: A single center, retrospective review of neonatal and pediatric non-cardiac ECMO survivors from 1/2005-7/2016 was performed. The 2012 Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) survey was administered. Clinical outcomes and QOL scores between groups were compared. RESULTS: Of 74 patients eligible, 64% (35 NICU, 12 PICU) completed the survey. Mean time since ECMO was 5.5±3years. ECMO duration for venoarterial (VA) and venovenous (VV) were similar (median 9 vs. 7.5days, p=0.09). VA ECMO had higher overall complication rate (64% vs. 36%, p=0.06) and higher neurologic complication rate (52% vs. 9%, p=0.002). ECMO mode and ICU type did not impact QOL. However, patients with neurologic complications (n=15) showed a trend towards lower overall QOL (63/100±20 vs. 74/100±18, p=0.06) compared to patients without neurologic complications. A subset analysis of patients with ischemic or hemorrhagic intracranial injuries (n=13) had significantly lower overall QOL (59/100±19 vs. 75/100±18, p=0.01) compared to patients without intracranial injuries. CONCLUSION: Neurologic complication following ECMO is common, associated with VA mode, and negatively impacts long-term QOL. Given these associations, when clinically feasible, VV ECMO may be considered as first line ECMO therapy. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Use of venovenous ECMO for neonatal and pediatric ECMO: a decade of experience at a tertiary children's hospital.

BACKGROUND: Advances in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) have led to increased use of venovenous (VV) ECMO in the pediatric population. We present the evolution and experience of pediatric VV ECMO at a tertiary care institution. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study from 01/2005 to 07/2016 was performed, comparing by cannulation mode. Survival to discharge, complications, and decannulation analyses were performed. RESULTS: In total, 160 patients (105 NICU, 55 PICU) required 13 ± 11 days of ECMO. VV cannulation was used primarily in 83 patients with 64% survival, while venoarterial (VA) ECMO was used in 77 patients with 54% survival. Overall, 74% of patients (n = 118) were successfully decannulated; 57% survived to discharge. VA ECMO had a higher rate of intra-cranial hemorrhage than VV (22 vs 9%, p = 0.003). Sixteen VA patients (21%) had radiographic evidence of a cerebral ischemic insult. No cardiac complications occurred with the use of dual-lumen VV cannulas. There were no differences in complications (p = 0.40) or re-operations (p = 0.85) between the VV and VA groups. CONCLUSION: Dual-lumen VV ECMO can be safely performed with appropriate image guidance, is associated with a lower rate of intra-cranial hemorrhage, and may be the preferred first-line mode of ECMO support in appropriately selected NICU and PICU patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Outcomes comparing dual-lumen to multisite venovenous ECMO in the pediatric population: the Extracorporeal Life Support Registry experience.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcomes associated with single site dual-lumen venovenous cannulas (VVDL) and to compare them to those associated with multisite VV ECMO (VVMS) cannulation. METHODS: The Extracorporeal Life Support (ELSO) Registry was reviewed to identify all children 31days to 18years treated with venovenous ECMO from 1998 to 2011 using either VVDL or VVMS techniques. Patient demographics, cannula type, ECMO variables, complications, and patient survival were analyzed. RESULTS: From 1998 to 2011, 1323 children underwent venovenous ECMO. The annual utilization of VVDL cannulas has increased and recently surpassed VVMS. Fifty-four percent (n=717) of patients had VVDL cannulation. This group was significantly younger and weighed less than the VVMS group. VVDL cannulas demonstrated improved weight-adjusted flow performance than traditional cannulation. Overall survival was comparable, 64.4% and 68.6%, for VVMS and VVDL respectively. VVDL cannulas experienced higher mechanical (26.2% vs. 22.5%; p=0.004) and cardiovascular complications rates (24.4% vs. 21.7%; p=0.03) than VVMS cannulas, but when stratified by VVDL cannula type, there were no differences between wire-reinforced and non-wire reinforced cannulas. CONCLUSIONS: VVDL cannulation has become the preferred modality for ECMO therapy in children with respiratory failure and it is mainly utilized in younger patients. The use of newer VVDL cannulas may provide improved pump flow performance without substantial additional risk.

Nature of the underlying heart disease affects survival in pediatric patients undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in acute resuscitation after cardiac arrest in pediatric patients with heart disease, with reference to patient selection and predictors of outcome. METHODS: A retrospective medical record review was performed of all patients aged ≤21 years with heart disease who had undergone ECMO for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) at Texas Children's Hospital from January 2005 to December 2012. The most recent Pediatric Overall Performance Category score was determined from the patients' medical records. RESULTS: During the study period, 62 episodes of ECPR occurred in 59 patients, with 27 (46%) surviving to hospital discharge and 25 (43%) alive at the most recent follow-up visit. The overall survival to discharge for patients with myocardial failure (myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, or after transplantation) and structural heart disease was similar (40% vs 50%, P=.6). No patient with restrictive cardiomyopathy survived; 1 patient (13%) in ECPR group after late cardiac graft failure survived to discharge. Survival to discharge was greater for patients who were intubated (70%) at cardiac arrest (P=.001). The presence of pre-existing acute kidney injury at cardiac arrest (62%) was associated with greater mortality (P=.059). A Pediatric Overall Performance Category score of ≤2 (indicating good neurologic performance) was present in 68% of the survivors; 7 patients (87%) with a score>2 had abnormal imaging findings (P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: ECPR was associated with modest survival in pediatric patients with heart disease; however, this was associated in part with the underlying disease and pre-existing comorbidities, including the presence of acute kidney injury.