Implementing an Innovative Cardiac Assist System in a Nonuniversity Hospital—Feasibility,Complications, and First Results |
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| Authors: | Jochen Graf Wolfram Radunz Isabell Häger Eva‐Marie Fehr Dominik Scharpf Andreas Kuhn Jens‐Martin Maier Marcus Hennersdorf |
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| Affiliation: | SLK‐Kliniken Heilbronn GmbH, Klinikum Am Gesundbrunnen, Medical Department I, Heilbronn, Germany |
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| Abstract: | To evaluate the feasibility of implementing a cardiac assist system in a nonuniversity hospital we analyzed 18 consecutive patients treated with venoarterial membrane oxygenation. The system was used electively in 5/18 (27.8%) patients during high‐risk interventions. Thirteen patients (72.2%) were treated in emergency situations. The extracorporal system could be initiated successfully in all patients. Periprocedural complications were hemolysis in 3/18 (16.7%), disseminated intravascular coagulation in 2/18 (11.1%), cerebral ischemia in 1/18 (5.6%), and local infection in 2/18 (11.1%) patients. None of these led to a discontinuation of the therapy. All electively treated patients were successfully weaned from the extracorporeal system. In 9/13 (69.2%) emergency patients the system was removed successfully. The 60‐day survival rate of the emergency patients was 53.8% (7/13). Our experience confirms that an innovative extracorporeal circulatory support system can be implemented in a nonuniversity hospital at a tolerable risk and a low complication and high procedural success rate. |
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| Keywords: | Cardiac assist system Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation Cardiogenic shock Cardiopulmonary support Complications |
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