Nosocomial Infections in Adult Patients Supported by Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

The use of venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (ECMO) in patients admitted to cardiac intensive care units (CICU) has increased. Data regarding infections in this population are scarce. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the risk factors, outcome, and predictors of in-hospital mortality due to nosocomial infections in patients with ECMO admitted to a single coronary intensive care unit between July 2013 and March 2019 treated with VA-ECMO for >48 h. From 69 patients treated with VA-ECMO >48 h, (median age 58 years), 29 (42.0%) patients developed 34 episodes of infections with an infection rate of 0.92/1000 ECMO days. The most frequent were ventilator-associated pneumonia (57.6%), tracheobronchitis (9.1%), bloodstream infections (9.1%), skin and soft tissue infections (9.1%), and cytomegalovirus reactivation (9.1%). In-hospital mortality was 47.8%, but no association with nosocomial infections was found (p = 0.75). The number of days on ECMO (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01-1.30, p = 0.029) and noninfectious complications were higher in the infected patients (OR: 3.8 95% CI = 1.05-14.1). A higher baseline creatinine value (OR: 8.2 95% CI = 1.12-60.2) and higher blood lactate level at 4 h after ECMO initiation (OR: 2.0 95% CI = 1.23-3.29) were significant and independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusions: Nosocomial infections in medical patients treated with VA-ECMO are very frequent, mostly Gram-negative respiratory infections. Preventive measures could play an important role for these patients.

Off-Hours versus Regular-Hours Implantation of Peripheral Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients with Cardiogenic Shock.

BACKGROUND: The "weekend effect" has been associated with worse clinical outcomes. Our aim was to compare off-hours vs. regular-hours peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in cardiogenic shock patients. METHODS: We analyzed in-hospital and 90-day mortality among 147 consecutive patients treated with percutaneous VA-ECMO for medical reasons between July 1, 2013, and September 30, 2022, during regular-hours (weekdays 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.) and off-hours (weekdays 10:01 p.m.-7:59 a.m., weekends, and holidays). RESULTS: The median patient age was 56 years (interquartile range [IQR] 49-64 years) and 112 (72.6%) were men. The median lactate level was 9.6 mmol/L (IQR 6.2-14.8 mmol/L) and 136 patients (92.5%) had a Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) stage D or E. Cannulation was performed off-hours in 67 patients (45.6%). In-hospital mortality was similar in off-hours and regular hours (55.2% vs. 56.3%, p = 0.901), as was the 90-day mortality (58.2% vs. 57.5%, p = 0.963), length of hospital stay (31 days [IQR 16-65.8 days] vs. 32 days [IQR 18-63 days], p = 0.979), and VA-ECMO related complications (77.6% vs. 70.0%, p = 0.305). CONCLUSIONS: Off-hours and regular-hours percutaneous VA-ECMO implantation in cardiogenic shock of medical cause have similar results. Our results support well-designed 24/7 VA-ECMO implantation programs for cardiogenic shock patients.

Lactate levels as a prognostic predict in cardiogenic shock under venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Lactate and its evolution are associated with the prognosis of patients in shock, although there is little evidence in those assisted with an extracorporeal venoarterial oxygenation membrane (VA-ECMO). Our objective was to evaluate its prognostic value in cardiogenic shock assisted with VA-ECMO. METHODS: Study of patients with cardiogenic shock treated with VA-ECMO for medical indication between July 2013 and April 2021. Lactate clearance was calculated: [(initial lactate - 6 h lactate) / initial lactate × exact time between both determinations]. RESULTS: From 121 patients, 44 had acute myocardial infarction (36.4%), 42 implant during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (34.7%), 14 pulmonary embolism (11.6%), 14 arrhythmic storm (11.6%), and 6 fulminant myocarditis (5.0%). After 30 days, 60 patients (49.6%) died, mortality was higher for implant during cardiopulmonary resuscitation than for implant in spontaneous circulation (30 of 42 [71.4%] vs 30 of 79 [38.0%], P=.030). Preimplantation GPT and lactate (both baseline, at 6hours, and clearance) were independently associated with 30-day mortality. The regression models that included lactate clearance had a better predictive capacity for survival than the ENCOURAGE and ECMO-ACCEPTS scores, with the area under the ROC curve being greater in the model with lactate at 6 h. CONCLUSIONS: Lactate (at baseline, 6h, and clearance) is an independent predictor of prognosis in patients in cardiogenic shock supported by VA-ECMO, allowing better risk stratification and predictive capacity.

Canulación urgente a pie de cama y sin anticoagulación de membrana de oxigenación extracorpórea venovenosa en un paciente con hemoptisis masiva y shock refractario / Emergent Bedside and Anticoagulation-free Veno-venal Extracorporeal Oxygenation Membrane Cannulation in a Patient with Massive Hemoptysis and Unresponsive Shock

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Reanimación cardiopulmonar con ECMO percutáneo en parada cardiaca refractaria hospitalaria: experiencia de un centro / Cardiopulmonary resuscitation with percutaneous ECMO in refractory in-hospital cardiac arrest: a single-center experience

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Uso del oxigenador extracorpóreo de membrana venoarterial en pacientes con tromboembolia pulmonar de alto riesgo / Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenator in massive pulmonary embolism

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Desarrollo y validación externa de un modelo pronóstico precoz para supervivientes de una parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria / Development and external validation of an early prognostic model for survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Introducción y objetivos: A pesar del uso de la hipotermia terapéutica, los pacientes recuperados tras sufrir una parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria tienen un elevado riesgo de muerte o deterioro neurológico grave. Se analizaron la utilidad de diversas variables disponibles al ingreso hospitalario para predecir su evolución a los 6 meses. Métodos: Se desarrolló un estudio multicéntrico en 3 unidades de cuidados intensivos cardiacos. El análisis se realizó sobre 153 pacientes ingresados en dos centros tras sufrir una parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria recuperada y que se trataron con control de temperatura, entre enero de 2007 y julio de 2015. Se consideraron secuelas neurológicas significativas si la Cerebral Performance Categories Scale > 2 a los 6 meses. Los resultados se validaron externamente con los datos procedentes de otros 91 pacientes ingresados en un tercer hospital, durante el mismo periodo de tiempo. Resultados: Del total de 244 pacientes (mediana de edad, 60 años; 77,1% varones; 50,0% en el contexto de isquemia miocárdica aguda), 107 (43,8%) sobrevivieron a los 6 meses con una evolución neurológica favorable. Se calculó un modelo predictivo que incluyó 5 variables (primer ritmo, edad, lactato al ingreso, tiempo hasta recuperación de circulación espontánea y diabetes), con un área bajo la curva de 0,90 (IC95%, 0,85-0,95). Cuando se realizó la validación externa del modelo, la sensibilidad fue de 73,5%, con una especificidad de 78,6% y un área bajo la curva de 0,82 (IC95%, 0,73-0,91). Conclusiones: Un modelo predictivo que incluye cinco variables disponibles en el momento de ingreso de pacientes recuperados tras sufrir una parada cardiaca extrahospitalaria puede ayudar a predecir la probabilidad de supervivencia libre de secuelas neurológicas graves en el seguimiento

Introduction and objectives: Despite therapeutic hypothermia, unconscious survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have a high risk of death or poor neurologic function. Our objective was to assess the usefulness of the variables obtained in the early moments after resuscitation in the prediction of 6-month prognosis. Methods: A multicenter study was performed in 3 intensive cardiac care units. The analysis was done in 153 consecutive survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who underwent targeted temperature management between January 2007 and July 2015. Significant neurological sequelae at 6 months were considered to be present in patients with Cerebral Performance Categories Scale > 2. An external validation was performed with data from 91 patients admitted to a third hospital in the same time interval. Results: Among the 244 analyzed patients (median age, 60 years; 77.1% male; 50.0% in the context of acute myocardial ischemia), 107 patients (43.8%) survived with good neurological status at 6 months. The prediction model included 5 variables (Shockable rhythm, Age, Lactate levels, Time Elapsed to return of spontaneous circulation, and Diabetes - SALTED) and provided an area under the curve of 0.90 (95%CI, 0.85-0.95). When external validation was performed, the predictive model showed a sensitivity of 73.5%, specificity of 78.6%, and area under the curve of 0.82 (95%CI, 0.73-0.91). Conclusions: A predictive model that includes 5 clinical and easily accessible variables at admission can help to predict the probability of survival without major neurological damage following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Development and External Validation of an Early Prognostic Model for Survivors of Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Despite therapeutic hypothermia, unconscious survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have a high risk of death or poor neurologic function. Our objective was to assess the usefulness of the variables obtained in the early moments after resuscitation in the prediction of 6-month prognosis. METHODS: A multicenter study was performed in 3 intensive cardiac care units. The analysis was done in 153 consecutive survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who underwent targeted temperature management between January 2007 and July 2015. Significant neurological sequelae at 6 months were considered to be present in patients with Cerebral Performance Categories Scale > 2. An external validation was performed with data from 91 patients admitted to a third hospital in the same time interval. RESULTS: Among the 244 analyzed patients (median age, 60 years; 77.1% male; 50.0% in the context of acute myocardial ischemia), 107 patients (43.8%) survived with good neurological status at 6 months. The prediction model included 5 variables (Shockable rhythm, Age, Lactate levels, Time Elapsed to return of spontaneous circulation, and Diabetes - SALTED) and provided an area under the curve of 0.90 (95%CI, 0.85-0.95). When external validation was performed, the predictive model showed a sensitivity of 73.5%, specificity of 78.6%, and area under the curve of 0.82 (95%CI, 0.73-0.91). CONCLUSIONS: A predictive model that includes 5 clinical and easily accessible variables at admission can help to predict the probability of survival without major neurological damage following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Very low risk ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction? It exists and may be easily identified.

BACKGROUND: Early discharge protocols have been proposed for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) low risk patients despite the existence of few but significant cardiovascular events during mid-term follow-up. We aimed to identify a subgroup of patients among those considered low-risk in which prognosis would be particularly good. METHODS: We analyzed 30-day outcomes and long-term follow-up among 1.111 STEMI patients treated with reperfusion therapy. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified seven variables as predictors of 30-day outcomes: Femoral approach; age>65; systolic dysfunction; postprocedural TIMI flow<3; elevated creatinine level>1.5mg/dL; stenosis of left-main coronary artery; and two or higher Killip class (FASTEST). A total of 228 patients (20.5%), defined as very low-risk (VLR), had none of these variables on admission. VLR group of patients compared to non-VLR patients had lower in-hospital (0% vs. 5.9%; p<0.001) and 30-day mortality (0% vs. 6.25%: p<0.001). They also presented fewer in-hospital complications (6.6% vs. 39.7%; p<0.001) and 30-day major adverse events (0.9% vs. 4.5%; p=0.01). Significant mortality differences during a mean follow-up of 23.8±19.4months were also observed (2.2% vs. 15.2%; p<0.001). The first VLR subject died 11months after hospital discharge. No cardiovascular deaths were identified in this subgroup of patients during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: About a fifth of STEMI patients have VLR and can be easily identified. They have an excellent prognosis suggesting that 24-48h in-hospital stay could be a feasible alternative in these patients.

[Smoking paradox in acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation]. / La paradoja del tabaco en el síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del ST.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although smoking habit is a well-known cardiovascular risk factor, it has been described that smokers admitted because of myocardial infarction have better prognosis than non smoker patients, which is known as "the smoking paradox". The purpose of our work is to investigate whether this phenomenon occurs among patients admitted because of acute coronary syndrome without ST-segment elevation (NSTACS), and which factors help to explain it. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analysed 563 consecutive patients admitted because of NSTACS on the Coronary Unit of our hospital from January 2005 to December 2006. We analysed clinic and angiographic characteristics and their relationship with in-hospital complications and prognosis. RESULTS: 155 Patients were smokers (27.53%). Smoker patients were younger, more often male, had less risk factors, and more often had a Killip I class at admission (91.6% vs. 79.3%). They had less commonly the combined endpoint of death, reinfarction or Killip Class IV (6.5 vs 13.6%, odds ratio 0.439, confidence interval 0.218 a 0.885, P=.018). This relationship was lost after adjusting to other significant clinical and angiographic data by logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the "smoking paradox" amongst NSTACS patients, which is explained by the lower prevalence of previous myocardial infarction, diabetes or multivessel disease. It is essential to recommend quitting the smoking habit.