Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) refers to use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in cardiopulmonary arrest. Although ECPR can increase survival rates after cardiac arrest, it can also result in poor post-resuscitation neurological status. Thus, we investigated predictors of good neurological outcomes after successful ECPR. A total of 227 patients underwent ECPR from May 2004 to June 2013 at Samsung Medical Center. Successful ECPR was defined as survival more than 24 hours after ECPR. Neurological outcomes were assessed at discharge using the Glasgow-Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Categories scale (CPC). CPC 1 and 2 were classified as good and CPC 3 to 5 were classified as poor neurological outcomes. Excluded were 22 patients who did not survive more than 24 hours after ECPR and 90 patients who died from unknown causes or causes other than brain death or whose neurological status could not be assessed at discharge. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of neurological outcomes. Included were 115 patients with a mean age of 58 (range 45–66) years and 80 men (70%). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed at non-hospital sites for 19 (17%) patients and bystander CPR was performed in 9 of 19 cases (47%). Cardiac etiology was verified in 74 (64%) patients and therapeutic hypothermia was performed in 9 patients (8%); 68 (59%) had good neurological outcomes and 47 (41%) did not and 24 patients died from brain death. Neurological outcomes were affected by hemoglobin levels before ECMO (P = 0.02), serum lactic acid (P < 0.001) before ECMO insertion, and interval from cardiac arrest to ECMO (P = 0.04). Low hemoglobin or high serum lactic acid levels before ECMO, and prolonged interval from cardiac arrest to ECMO predicted poor neurological outcomes after successful ECPR. Early institution of ECMO and a low threshold for blood transfusion might improve neurological outcomes for patients who survive ECPR.

Limited data are available on imaging predictors of neurological outcomes after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). We investigated the association of initial brain computed tomography (CT) findings with neurological outcomes following ECPR. Between February 2005 and December 2015, a total of 42 patients who underwent brain CT scans within 48 h after ECPR were analyzed. Loss of the boundary between gray matter and white matter (LOB) or cortical sulcal effacement (SE), gray-to-white matter ratio (GWR), and optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) were measured on initial brain CT. The primary outcome was the Cerebral Performance Categories (CPC) scale at discharge. Of the 42 adult ECPR patients, 23 (54.8%) patients survived to discharge and 19 (45.2%) patients had good neurological outcomes (CPC 1 and 2). The area under the curve (AUC) of GWR in the basal ganglia (GWR-BG) was 0.792 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.639–0.901, p = 0.001). ONSD (AUC 0.745; 95% CI, 0.587 – 0.867, p = 0.007) was 5.57 (interquartile range (IQR) 5.14 – 5.98) mm in the good neurological outcome group versus 6.07 (IQR 5.71 – 6.64) mm in the poor outcome group. LOB or SE were more often detected in the poor neurological outcome group (AUC 0.817; 95% CI, 0.682–0.952, p <0.001). The predictive performance of poor neurological outcomes of a composite of GWR-BG, ONSD, and LOB/SE was significantly improved (AUC 0.904; 95% CI, 0.773–0.973) compared to when each brain CT marker was considered separately (GWR-BG, p = 0.048; ONSD, p = 0.026; LOB/SE, p = 0.028). GWR, ONSD, and LOB/SE on initial brain CT scans are associated with neurological prognosis in patients who underwent ECPR. The new risk prediction model, which uses a composite of GWR, ONCD, and LOB/SE, could provide better information on neurologic outcomes in patients underwent ECPR.

Background: We aimed to investigate the effects and proper timing of left heart decompression (LHD) on the clinical outcomes of patients on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO). Methods: Among 335 adult patients who underwent VA ECMO from January 2013 to December 2016, 50 who underwent LHD were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the timing of LHD: those in whom percutaneous LHD was performed at ECMO initiation (prophylactic LHD group, n=18) and those who required LHD to treat complications of impaired left ventricle (LV) unloading (therapeutic LHD group, n=32). Results: Thirty-day mortality rates were 34.4% and 5.6% in the therapeutic and prophylactic LHD groups, respectively (P=0.036). The rate of successful weaning from ECMO (62.5% vs. 83.3%, P=0.123) and duration of ECMO support (10.5 vs. 15.4 days, P=0.332) were not significantly different between the groups. However, the rate of bridging to cardiac replacement therapy, such as heart transplantation or left ventricular assist device, was significantly higher in the prophylactic LHD group (66.7%) than in the therapeutic LHD group (37.5%) (P=0.048). Conclusions: Prophylactic percutaneous transseptal left atrial (LA) drainage at ECMO initiation appeared to be associated with a lower early mortality rate and a higher likelihood of successful bridging to cardiac replacement therapy than therapeutic LHD to treat complications of left ventricular distension.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a technique that uses a pump to drain blood from a body, circulate blood through a membrane lung, and return the oxygenated blood back into the body. Venoarterial (VA) ECMO is a simplified version of the heart-lung machine that assists native pulmonary and/or cardiac function. VA ECMO is composed of a drainage cannula in the venous system and a return cannula in the arterial system. Because VA ECMO can increase tissue perfusion by increasing the arterial blood flow, it is used to treat medically refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. VA ECMO has a distinct physiology that is referred to as differential flows. It can cause several complications such as left ventricular distension with pulmonary edema, distal limb ischemia, bleeding, and thromboembolism. Physicians who are using this technology should be knowledgeable on the prevention and management of these complications. We review the basic physiology of VA ECMO, the mechanism of complications, and the simple management of VA ECMO.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has been performed with increasing frequency worldwide to improve the low survival rate of conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR). Several studies have shown that among patients who experience in-hospital cardiac arrest, better survival outcomes and neurological outcomes can be expected after ECPR than after CCPR. However, studies have not clearly shown a short-term survival benefit of ECPR for patients who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Favorable outcomes are associated with a shorter low-flow time, an initial shockable rhythm, lower serum lactate levels, higher blood pH, and a lower Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. Indications for ECPR include young age, witnessed arrest with bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, an initial shockable rhythm, correctable causes such as a cardiac etiology, and no return of spontaneous circulation within 10-20 minutes of CCPR. ECPR is a complex intervention that requires a highly trained team, specialized equipment, and multidisciplinary support within a healthcare system, and it has the risk of several life-threatening complications. Therefore, physicians should carefully select patients for ECPR who can gain the most benefit, instead of applying ECPR indiscriminately.

Lee JH, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2020 Sep;35(40):e360. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e360