Left ventricular hemodynamics with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: There is considerable debate about the hemodynamic effects of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). AIMS: To evaluate the changes in left ventricular (LV) function, volumes, and work in patients treated with VA-ECMO using invasive LV catheterization and three-dimensional echocardiographic volumes. METHODS: Patients on VA-ECMO underwent invasive hemodynamic evaluation due to concerns regarding candidacy for decannulation. Hemodynamic parameters were reported as means±standard deviations or medians (interquartile ranges) after evaluating for normality. Paired comparisons were done to evaluate hemodynamics at the baseline (highest) and lowest tolerated levels of VA-ECMO support. RESULTS: Twenty patients aged 52.3 ± 15.8 years were included. All patients received VA-ECMO for refractory cardiogenic shock (5/20 SCAI stage D, 15/20 SCAI stage E). At 3.0 (2.0, 4.0) days after VA-ECMO cannulation, the baseline LV ejection fraction was 20% (15%, 27%). The baseline and lowest VA-ECMO flows were 4.0 ± 0.6 and 1.5 ± 0.6 L/min, respectively. Compared to the lowest flow, full VA-ECMO support reduced LV end-diastolic volume [109 ± 81 versus 134 ± 93 mL, p = 0.001], LV end-diastolic pressure (14 ± 9 vs. 19 ± 9 mmHg, p < 0.001), LV stroke work (1858 ± 1413 vs. 2550 ± 1486 mL*mmHg, p = 0.002), and LV pressure-volume area (PVA) (4507 ± 1910 vs. 5193 ± 2388, p = 0.03) respectively. Mean arterial pressure was stable at the highest and lowest flows (80 ± 16 vs. 75 ± 14, respectively; p = 0.08) but arterial elastance was higher at the highest VA-ECMO flow (4.9 ± 2.2 vs lowest flow 2.7 ± 1.6; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High flow VA-ECMO support significantly reduced LV end-diastolic pressure, end-diastolic volume, stroke work, and PVA compared to minimal support. The Ea was higher and MAP was stable or minimally elevated on high flow.

Opportunistic CT-derived analysis of fat and muscle tissue composition predicts mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock.

Prognosis estimation in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) is important to guide clinical decision making. Aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of opportunistic CT-derived body composition analysis in CS patients. Amount and density of fat and muscle tissue of 152 CS patients were quantified from single-slice CT images at the level of the intervertebral disc space L3/L4. Multivariable Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive value of opportunistically CT-derived body composition parameters on the primary endpoint of 30-day mortality. Within the 30-day follow-up, 90/152 (59.2%) patients died. On multivariable analyses, lactate (Hazard Ratio 1.10 [95% Confidence Interval 1.04-1.17]; p = 0.002) and patient age (HR 1.04 [95% CI 1.01-1.07], p = 0.017) as clinical prognosticators, as well as visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area (HR 1.004 [95% CI 1.002-1.007]; p = 0.001) and skeletal muscle (SM) area (HR 0.987 [95% CI 0.975-0.999]; p = 0.043) as imaging biomarkers remained as independent predictors of 30-day mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses showed significantly increased 30-day mortality in patients with higher VAT area (p = 0.015) and lower SM area (p = 0.035). CT-derived VAT and SM area are independent predictors of dismal outcomes in CS patients and have the potential to emerge as new imaging biomarkers available from routine diagnostic CT.

Prognostic impact of lung computed tomography density in cardiogenic shock patients with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications often occur in patients receiving veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO). However, the prognostic impact of lung damage has not been fully elucidated. METHODS: This single-center retrospective observational study targeted patients with cardiogenic shock who received VA ECMO between 2012 and 2021. This study included 65 patients who underwent chest computed tomography (CT) on VA ECMO, followed by escalation to central mechanical circulatory support (MCS) with left ventricular venting. The average density of lung CT images was measured using region-of-interest methods, and the primary endpoint was 180-day all-cause death after escalation to the central MCS. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (34%) developed 180-day all-cause death. According to the Cox regression analysis, age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.14; p = 0.001), ischemic etiology (HR, 5.53; 95% CI, 2.09-14.62; p < 0.001), duration of VA ECMO support (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.00-1.40; p = 0.045), and lung CT density (≥ -481 Hounsfield unit [HU]) (HR, 6.33; 95% CI, 2.26-17.72; p < 0.001) were independently associated with all-cause death. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis determined that lung CT density ≥ -481 HU is an optimal cutoff value for predicting all-cause death (area under the curve [AUC], 0.72). The 180-day overall survival rate for patients with high lung CT density (≥ -481 HU) was significantly lower than that for those with low lung CT density (< -481 HU) (44.4% vs. 81.6%, respectively, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Higher lung CT density could be a useful predictor of death in patients with VA ECMO requiring central MCS escalation.

Multimodality imaging in cardiogenic shock: state-of-the art.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There is emerging evidence on the role of the multimodality imaging in the setting of cardiogenic shock. The utility of different imaging modalities, along with their pitfalls and limitations, and their integration in a multiparametric approach are discussed in the current review. RECENT FINDINGS: The evaluation of congestion and perfusion in patients with shock has allowed a better understanding of the underlying physiopathological mechanisms. Integration of echocardiography, using more physiological parameters, with lung ultrasound, as well as the Doppler evaluation of abdominal blood flow dynamics, has led to a better stratification in patinas with hemodynamic instability. SUMMARY: Although validation of the integrated approaches and single parameters are needed, the physiopathological-driven approach using ultrasound in patients with cardiogenic shock on top of the clinical and biochemical evaluation, may aid to a quicker and more detailed evaluation of patient's phenotype.

Use and Implications of Echocardiography in the Hemodynamic Assessment of Cardiogenic Shock.

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a complex multisystem syndrome due to pump failure, associated with high mortality and morbidity. Its hemodynamic characterization is key to the diagnostic algorithm and management. Pulmonary artery catheterization is the gold standard for the left and right hemodynamic evaluation, but some concerns exist for invasivity and untoward mechanical and infective complications. Transthoracic echocardiography is a robust noninvasive diagnostic tool for hemodynamic multiparametric assessment that well applies to the management of CS. Its applications expand from etiology definition to the choice of therapeutic intervention and their monitoring. The present review aims at detailing the role of ultrasounds in CS emphasizing the clinical implications of combining cardiac and non-cardiac ultrasounds examinations that may correlate with prognosis.

Application of Cardiogenic Shock Working Group-defined Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (CSWG-SCAI) Staging of Cardiogenic Shock to the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database.

BACKGROUND: The optimal parameters for defining stages of cardiogenic shock (CS) are not yet known. The Cardiogenic Shock Working Group-defined Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (CSWG-SCAI) staging of CS was developed to provide simple and specific parameters for risk-stratifying patients. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to test whether the Cardiogenic Shock Working Group-defined Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (CSWG-SCAI) staging is associated with in-hospital mortality, using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. METHODS: We utilized the open-access MIMIC-IV database, which includes >300,000 patients admitted between 2008 and 2019. We extracted the clinical profile of patients admitted with CS and stratified them into different SCAI stages at admission based on the CSWG criteria. We then tested the association between in-hospital mortality and parameters of hypotension, hypoperfusion, and overall CSWG-SCAI stage. RESULTS: Of the 2463 patients, CS was predominantly caused by heart failure (HF; 54.7 %) or myocardial infarction (MI; 26.3 %). Mortality was 37.5 % for the total cohort, 32.7 % for patients with HF, and 40 % for patients with MI (p < 0.001). Mortality was higher among patients with mean arterial pressure < 65 mmHg, lactate >2 mmol/L, ALT >200 IU/L, pH ≤ 7.2, and more than one drug/device support at baseline. Increasing CSWG-SCAI stages at baseline and maximum CSWG-SCAI stage achieved were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The CSWG-SCAI stages are significantly associated with in-hospital mortality and may be used to identify hospitalized patients at risk of worsening cardiogenic shock severity. CONDENSED ABSTRACT: We analyzed data from 2463 patients with cardiogenic shock using the MIMIC-IV database to investigate the relationship between the Cardiogenic Shock Working Group-defined Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (CSWG-SCAI) staging and in-hospital mortality. The main causes of cardiogenic shock were heart failure (54.7 %) and myocardial infarction (26.3 %). The overall mortality rate was 37.5 %, with a higher rate among patients with myocardial infarction (40 %) compared to those with heart failure (32.7 %). Mean arterial pressure < 65 mmHg, lactate >2 mmol/L, ALT >200 IU/L, and pH ≤ 7.2 were significantly associated with mortality. Increasing CSWG-SCAI stages at baseline and maximum achieved stages were strongly associated with higher mortality (p < 0.05). Therefore, the CSWG-SCAI staging system can be used to risk-stratify patients with cardiogenic shock.

The Role of Focused 2-Dimensional Echocardiography in Managing Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction Mimicking Cardiogenic Shock.

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) is a common cardiogenic shock (CS) mimic. We present 3 cases of patients presenting with CS following myocardial infarction, exhibiting a poor response to conventional treatment with inotropy and mechanical circulatory support. This triggered echocardiographic assessment by critical care physicians using focused 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. This timely assessment identified anterior mitral valve leaflet entrainment into the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), causing LVOTO as the underlying shock mechanism. Echocardiographic findings have led to significant changes in management. The patients underwent fluid administration, weaning from inotropy, and mechanical circulatory support explantation, leading to relief of LVOTO and improved hemodynamics. Critical care basic 2D echocardiography accreditations focus on myocardial function and pericardial effusions. Relevant societies administering these accreditations should consider adding LVOT assessment to enable timely diagnosis of this life-threatening CS mimic.

A rare case of cardiogenic shock caused by takotsubo syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection: The value of echocardiography in the diagnosis and monitoring of the efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mainly invades the respiratory system, but may also cause various cardiovascular complications. We report a rare case of myocarditis associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. A 61-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a positive nucleic acid test for SARS-CoV-2. A sudden increase in troponin level (up to .144 ng/mL) was observed on the 8th day after admission. He developed symptoms of heart failure and progressed rapidly to cardiogenic shock. Echocardiography on the same day showed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, reduced cardiac output, and segmental ventricular wall motion abnormalities. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection was considered based on the typical echocardiography findings. We immediately started veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) treatment. The patient was successfully withdrawn from VA-ECMO after 8 days following recovery of ejection fraction to 65% and all indicators qualifying the withdrawal criteria. Echocardiography plays an important role in dynamic monitoring of cardiac changes in such cases and can help determine the timing of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment and withdrawal.

Lung ultrasound to evaluate pulmonary changes in patients with cardiogenic shock undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the value of lung ultrasound (LUS) in patients with cardiogenic shock treated by venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in Xuzhou Central Hospital from September 2015 to April 2022. Patients with cardiogenic shock who received VA-ECMO treatment were enrolled in this study. The LUS score was obtained at the different time points of ECMO. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were divided into a survival group (n = 16) and a nonsurvival group (n = 6). The intensive care unit (ICU) mortality was 27.3% (6/22). The LUS scores in the nonsurvival group were significantly higher than those in the survival group after 72 h (P < 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between LUS scores and PaO2/FiO2 and LUS scores and pulmonary dynamic compliance(Cdyn) after 72 h of ECMO treatment (P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of T72-LUS was 0.964 (95% CI 0.887 ~ 1.000, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: LUS is a promising tool for evaluating pulmonary changes in patients with cardiogenic shock undergoing VA-ECMO. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study had been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(NO.ChiCTR2200062130 and 24/07/2022).

Echocardiographic findings in cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction versus heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the prototypical cause of cardiogenic shock (CS), yet CS due to heart failure (HF-CS) is increasingly common. Little is known regarding cardiac function in AMI-CS versus HF-CS. We compared transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) findings in AMI-CS versus HF-CS and identified predictors of mortality in AMI-CS patients. METHODS: We performed a single-center, retrospective analysis of CS admissions between 2007 and 2018. We compared baseline demographic and TTE parameters in patients with AMI-CS and HF-CS as well as ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)-CS versus non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)-CS. RESULTS: We included 893 unique patients, including 581 (65%) with AMI-CS. AMI-CS patients were older but had lower illness severity and non-cardiac comorbidity burden. AMI-CS patients had better left ventricular function (LVEF 35% versus 28%), lower biventricular filling pressures, and higher stroke volume versus those with HF-CS. Among TTE measurements, myocardial contraction fraction had the highest discrimination for mortality in AMI-CS (AUC: 0.64); AUC values for LVEF and SOFA score were 0.61 and 0.65, respectively. Differences in TTE findings between STEMI-CS versus NSTEMI-CS were modest. There were no significant differences in unadjusted or adjusted in-hospital mortality between AMI-CS and HF-CS (31% versus 35%) or STEMI-CS and NSTEMI-CS (31% versus 30%) groups (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HF-CS and AMI-CS differ in terms of clinical and TTE variables yet have similar prognoses. TTE is useful in determining prognosis of patients admitted with AMI-CS and may allow for early triage and directed therapy.

Avaliação ecocardiográfica do paciente com choque circulatório: uma abordagem contemporânea / Echocardiographic evaluation of a patient in circulatory shock: a contemporary approach

O choque circulatório é caracterizado por um estado de ineficiência da oferta de oxigênio tecidual e disfunção múltipla de órgãos. Necessita de diagnóstico e terapias rápidas e assertivas para redução de sua alta letalidade. O ecocardiograma já se estabeleceu como método fundamental no manejo do paciente com choque circulatório. Auxilia de forma crucial no diagnóstico etiológico, prognóstico, monitorização hemodinâmica e estimativa volêmica desses pacientes, tendo como potenciais vantagens a portabilidade, ausência de contraste ou radiação, baixo custo e avaliação em tempo real e de forma seriada. Em ambiente de UTI, demonstra alta correlação com formas invasivas (cateter de artéria pulmonar) e minimamente invasivas (termodiluição transpulmonar) de monitorização hemodinâmica. Atualmente, outras técnicas, como ultrassom pulmonar e VExUS score, têm se agregado à avaliação ecocardiográfica, tornando o método mais abrangente e acurado. Essas técnicas acrescentam dados relevantes na estimativa da volemia do paciente crítico, influenciando na decisão probabilística de fluidoresponsividade e agregando informações no raciocínio diagnóstico das causas do choque, otimizando o prognóstico desses pacientes. O point of care ultrasound (POCUS) tem como objetivo tornar mais acessível, ao médico não especialista em radiologia, habilidades para se obter informações a beira leito, por meio do ultrassom, que o ajudem na tomada de decisões. Esse artigo aborda as diversas aplicabilidades do ecocardiograma em pacientes com choque circulatório, incluindo avaliação prognóstica e diagnóstico etiológico por meio dos parâmetros encontrados nas principais causas de choque, além da monitorização hemodinâmica, avaliação de fluido-responsividade e utilização prática do ultrassom pulmonar.(AU)

Circulatory shock is characterized by a state of inefficient tissue oxygen supply and multiple organ dysfunction. Patients with circulatory shock require fast and assertive diagnosis and therapies to reduce its high lethality. Echocardiography has already been established as a fundamental method in managing patients with circulatory shock. It provides crucial assistance in etiological diagnosis, prognosis, hemodynamic monitoring, and volume estimation in these patients; its potential advantages include portability, absence of contrast or radiation, low cost, and real-time serial assessment. In the intensive care unit setting, it demonstrates a high correlation with invasive (pulmonary artery catheter) and minimally invasive (transpulmonary thermodilution) forms of hemodynamic monitoring. Currently, other techniques, such as pulmonary ultrasound and VExUS score, have been added to echocardiographic assessment, making the method more comprehensive and accurate. These techniques add relevant data to blood volume estimation in critical patients, influencing the probabilistic decision of fluid responsiveness and providing additional information in the diagnostic reasoning of the causes of shock, thus optimizing these patients' prognosis. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) aims to make abilities to obtain information at the bedside more accessible to physicians who are not specialists in radiology, by means of ultrasound, which assists them in decision-making. This article addresses the diverse applications of echocardiography in patients with circulatory shock, including prognostic evaluation and etiological diagnosis by means of the parameters found in the main causes of shock, in addition to hemodynamic monitoring, evaluation of fluid responsiveness, and practical use of pulmonary ultrasound.(AU)

Quantitative evaluation of hemodynamic parameters by echocardiography in patients with post-cardiotomy cardiac shock supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: When drugs fail to reverse post-cardiotomy cardiac shock (PCS), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is considered the most effective adjuvant strategy. Transthoracic echocardiography is a useful imaging modality for monitoring of cardiac hemodynamics. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of echocardiography for monitoring the left and right heart hemodynamics in PCS patients before, during, and after weaning from ECMO. METHODS: Fifty-two patients were divided into successful weaning group (group A, n = 23) and non-successful weaning group (group B, n = 29). Hemodynamic parameters measured by echocardiography were collected before, during, and after ECMO. The intra-group changes and inter-group differences were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: In group A, the central venous pressure (CVP), proximal right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), velocity of tricuspid valve (TVDV), and systolic velocity of tricuspid annulus ([Formula: see text]) during ECMO were significantly lower than those before ECMO. After ECMO, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), systolic velocity of mitral annulus ([Formula: see text]), and velocity-time integral of LV outflow tract (LVOT-VTI) were higher than pre-ECMO levels, and CVP, LVEF, [Formula: see text], LVOT-VTI, RVOT, TAPSE, TVDV and [Formula: see text] were higher than those during ECMO (all P < 0.05). In group B, compared to pre-ECMO, subjects exhibited decreased CVP, RVOT, TAPSE, TVDV and [Formula: see text] during ECMO. TAPSE, TVDV, and [Formula: see text] were continuously lower after ECMO, while CVP and RVOT increased after ECMO (all P < 0.05). After ECMO, LVEF, [Formula: see text], LVOT-VTI, TAPSE, TVDV and [Formula: see text] in group A were higher than those in group B (all P < 0.05). Inter-group comparison showed the LVEF and RV Tei indices of group A were significantly different than those of group B before, during, and after ECMO. CONCLUSION: Quantitative assessment of both LV and RV by echocardiography is important for ECMO weaning. Patients with better LVEF and lower RV Tei index may have a better chance of successful weaning from ECMO.

Echocardiographic Characteristics of Cardiogenic Shock Patients with and Without Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrest (CA) is associated with worse outcomes in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). To better understand the contribution of CA on CS, we evaluated transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) parameters in CS patients with and without CA. METHODS: We retrospectively identified CS patients with a TTE performed near cardiac intensive care unit admission between 2007 to 2018. We compared TTE measurements of left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function in patients with and without CA. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality, as determined using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: We included 1085 patients, 35% of whom had CA. Median age was 70 years and 37% were females. CA patients had higher severity of illness, more invasive mechanical ventilation and greater vasopressor/inotrope use. In-hospital mortality was 31% and was higher in CA patients (45% vs. 23%, p <0.001). Although LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was similar (35% vs. 37%, p = 0.05), CA patients had lower cardiac index, mitral valve E wave peak velocity, E/A ratio and E/e' ratio. TTE variables that were associated with hospital mortality varied, among patients with CA, these included measures of RV pressure and function and among patients without CA, these included parameters reflecting LV systolic function. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler assessments of RV systolic dysfunction were the strongest TTE predictors of hospital mortality in CS patients with CA, unlike CS patients without CA in whom LV systolic function was more important. This emphasizes the importance of RV assessment for mortality risk stratification after CA.

Right ventricular echocardiographic parameters and prediction of stroke volume in ischemic cardiogenic shock: A retrospective study.

PURPOSE: This study investigated which commonly used right ventricular (RV) echocardiographic parameter correlates best with stroke volume (SV) estimated by Doppler echocardiography in ischemic cardiogenic shock (CS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 100 patients admitted to the ICU over 34 months with CS. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), Tricuspid annulus systolic velocity (RV S'), Tricuspid regurgitation maximum velocity (TR Vmax), and RV outflow tract velocity time integral (RVOT VTI) were correlated to SV. RESULTS: Mean age was 62.6 ± 12.7 years and 78% were male. The mean SV, TAPSE, RV S', TR Vmax, and RVOT VTI were 47 ± 16 ml, 16 ± 5 mm, 11 ± 4 mm/s, 1.97 ± 0.73 m/s, and 12.7 ± 5 cm, respectively. RVOT VTI correlated best to SV (r = 0.39 p = 0.01) compared to TAPSE, RV S', and TR Vmax (r = 0.26 p = 0.01, r = 0.15 p = 0.21, r = 0.03 p = 0.78). RVOT VTI independently predicted SV. Univariate analysis demonstrated that only RVOT VTI predicted SV (OD = 1.18 p = 0.04) and had the best area under the curve (0.70, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: RVOT VTI correlated better (albeit weakly) to and best predicted SV compared to TAPSE, RV S', and TR Vmax in patients admitted to intensive care with CS. This study suggests that RVOT VTI has the potential as a therapeutic target to optimize SV in CS.