Klaus Distelmaier1, Dominik Wiedemann2, Katharina Lampichler3, Daniel Toth3, Lukas Galli1, Thomas Haberl2, Barbara Steinlechner4, Gottfried Heinz1, Günther Laufer2, Irene M Lang1, Georg Goliasch5, Walter S Speidl1. 1. Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. 2. Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. 3. Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. 4. Division of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. 5. Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: georg.goliasch@meduniwien.ac.at.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is a life-saving method for patients with low-output failure after cardiac surgery. However, VA-ECMO therapy may increase left ventricular afterload due to retrograde blood flow in the aorta, which may lead to progression of pulmonary congestion. We examined the predictive value of pulmonary congestion in patients that need VA-ECMO support after cardiovascular surgery. METHODS: We enrolled a total of 266 adult patients undergoing VA-ECMO support following cardiovascular surgery at a university-affiliated tertiary care centre into our single-center registry. Pulmonary edema was assessed on bedside chest X rays at day 0, 3, 5 after VA-ECMO implantation. RESULTS: Median age was 65 (57-72) years, 69% of patients were male and 30-day survival was 63%. At ICU-admission 20% of patients had mild, 54% had moderate and 26% showed severe pulmonary congestion. Pulmonary congestion at day 0 was not associated with outcome (adjusted HR 1.31; 95%-CI 0.89-1.93;P = 0.18), whereas pulmonary congestion at day 3 (adj. HR 2.81; 95%-CI 1.76-4.46;P<0.001) and day 5 (adj. HR 3.01;95%-CI 1.84-4.93;P<0.001) was significantly associated with survival. Linear regression revealed that out of left ventricular function, cardiac output, central venous saturation, maximum dobutamine and norepinephrine dose as well as fluid balance solely ECMO rotation was associated with the evolution of pulmonary congestion (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary edema three and five days after ECMO implantation are associated with poor survival. Interestingly, a high VA-ECMO output was the most important determinant of worsening pulmonary congestion within the first five days.
BACKGROUND: Venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is a life-saving method for patients with low-output failure after cardiac surgery. However, VA-ECMO therapy may increase left ventricular afterload due to retrograde blood flow in the aorta, which may lead to progression of pulmonary congestion. We examined the predictive value of pulmonary congestion in patients that need VA-ECMO support after cardiovascular surgery. METHODS: We enrolled a total of 266 adult patients undergoing VA-ECMO support following cardiovascular surgery at a university-affiliated tertiary care centre into our single-center registry. Pulmonary edema was assessed on bedside chest X rays at day 0, 3, 5 after VA-ECMO implantation. RESULTS: Median age was 65 (57-72) years, 69% of patients were male and 30-day survival was 63%. At ICU-admission 20% of patients had mild, 54% had moderate and 26% showed severe pulmonary congestion. Pulmonary congestion at day 0 was not associated with outcome (adjusted HR 1.31; 95%-CI 0.89-1.93;P = 0.18), whereas pulmonary congestion at day 3 (adj. HR 2.81; 95%-CI 1.76-4.46;P<0.001) and day 5 (adj. HR 3.01;95%-CI 1.84-4.93;P<0.001) was significantly associated with survival. Linear regression revealed that out of left ventricular function, cardiac output, central venous saturation, maximum dobutamine and norepinephrine dose as well as fluid balance solely ECMO rotation was associated with the evolution of pulmonary congestion (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS:Pulmonary edema three and five days after ECMO implantation are associated with poor survival. Interestingly, a high VA-ECMO output was the most important determinant of worsening pulmonary congestion within the first five days.