BACKGROUND: Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) has been used for profound cardiogenic shock to bridge to decision, ventricular assist device(s) (VADs), or transplant. To assess ventricular function and volume status along with hemodynamics during ECMO weaning, we developed a standardized weaning protocol, guided by a miniaturized transesophageal echocardiography probe designed for continuous hemodynamic monitoring (hemodynamic transesophageal echocardiography [hTEE]). We reviewed our experience with this weaning protocol with hTEE guidance to assess if we could predict patient outcomes. METHODS: During the academic year of 2011, hTEE-guided ECMO weaning was performed in 21 patients on VA ECMO. Left and right ventricular function and volume status were assessed by continuous hTEE, while attempting to wean ECMO after a standardized protocol. The clinical outcomes, management, and positive predictive value of the device were investigated and analyzed for this cohort of patients. RESULTS: Of the 21 patients, 6 (29%) had left and right ventricular recovery and underwent optimal medical therapy or revascularization for underlying coronary artery disease; 7 (33%) had nonrecoverable left and right ventricular function; and 8 (38%) had right ventricular recovery without improvement of the left ventricular function. These 8 patients underwent left VAD placement; none subsequently developed profound right ventricular failure. The positive predictive value for ventricular recovery by hTEE was 100% using our standardized ECMO weaning protocol (95% confidence interval, 73%-100%). CONCLUSIONS: The hTEE-guided ECMO weaning protocol accurately predicted the ability to wean ECMO to decision. This protocol can be applied by cardiac intensivists as a part of standard bedside intensive care unit assessment.
BACKGROUND: Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) has been used for profound cardiogenic shock to bridge to decision, ventricular assist device(s) (VADs), or transplant. To assess ventricular function and volume status along with hemodynamics during ECMO weaning, we developed a standardized weaning protocol, guided by a miniaturized transesophageal echocardiography probe designed for continuous hemodynamic monitoring (hemodynamic transesophageal echocardiography [hTEE]). We reviewed our experience with this weaning protocol with hTEE guidance to assess if we could predict patient outcomes. METHODS: During the academic year of 2011, hTEE-guided ECMO weaning was performed in 21 patients on VA ECMO. Left and right ventricular function and volume status were assessed by continuous hTEE, while attempting to wean ECMO after a standardized protocol. The clinical outcomes, management, and positive predictive value of the device were investigated and analyzed for this cohort of patients. RESULTS: Of the 21 patients, 6 (29%) had left and right ventricular recovery and underwent optimal medical therapy or revascularization for underlying coronary artery disease; 7 (33%) had nonrecoverable left and right ventricular function; and 8 (38%) had right ventricular recovery without improvement of the left ventricular function. These 8 patients underwent left VAD placement; none subsequently developed profound right ventricular failure. The positive predictive value for ventricular recovery by hTEE was 100% using our standardized ECMO weaning protocol (95% confidence interval, 73%-100%). CONCLUSIONS: The hTEE-guided ECMO weaning protocol accurately predicted the ability to wean ECMO to decision. This protocol can be applied by cardiac intensivists as a part of standard bedside intensive care unit assessment.
Authors: S Treskatsch; F Balzer; F Knebel; M Habicher; J P Braun; M Kastrup; H Grubitzsch; K-D Wernecke; C Spies; M Sander Journal: Int J Cardiovasc Imaging Date: 2015-06-06 Impact factor: 2.357
Authors: J Vockley; J Charrow; J Ganesh; M Eswara; G A Diaz; E McCracken; R Conway; G M Enns; J Starr; R Wang; J E Abdenur; J Sanchez-de-Toledo; D L Marsden Journal: Mol Genet Metab Date: 2016-08-27 Impact factor: 4.797
Authors: Ravi Vuthoori; Cassandra Heaney; Brian Lima; Alexis Knisel; Ed Miller; Kevin Kennedy; David Majure; Gerin Stevens; Karl Bocchieri; Hugh Cassiere; Harold Fernandez; Simon Maybaum Journal: ESC Heart Fail Date: 2022-04-22
Authors: Anders Aneman; Nicholas Brechot; Daniel Brodie; Frances Colreavy; John Fraser; Charles Gomersall; Peter McCanny; Peter Hasse Moller-Sorensen; Jukka Takala; Kamen Valchanov; Michael Vallely Journal: Intensive Care Med Date: 2018-04-30 Impact factor: 17.440
Authors: Adamantios Tsangaris; Tamas Alexy; Rajat Kalra; Marinos Kosmopoulos; Andrea Elliott; Jason A Bartos; Demetris Yannopoulos Journal: Front Cardiovasc Med Date: 2021-07-07