One hundred ECMO retrivals before and during the Covid-19 pandemic: an observational study

ObjectivesPatients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome may require veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) support. For patients in peripheral hospitals, retrieval by mobile ECMO teams and transport to high-volume centers is associated with improved outcomes, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic. To enable a safe transport of patients, a specialised ECMO-retrieval program needs to be implemented. However, there is insufficient evidence on how to safely and efficiently perform ECMO retrievals. We report single-centre data from out-of-centre initiations of VV-ECMO before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design & settingSingle-centre retrospective study. We include all the retrievals performed by our ECMO centre between January 1st, 2014, and April 30th, 2021.ResultsOne hundred ECMO missions were performed in the study period, for a median retrieval volume of 13 (IQR: 9–16) missions per year. the cause of the acute respiratory distress syndrome was COVID-19 in 10 patients (10 %). 98 (98 %) patients were retrieved and transported to our ECMO centre. To allow safe transport, 91 of them were cannulated on-site and transported on V-V ECMO. The remaining seven patients were centralised without ECMO, but they were all connected to V-V ECMO in the first 24 hours. No complications occurred during patient transport. The median duration of the ECMO mission was 7 hours (IQR: 6–9, range: 2 – 17). Median duration of ECMO support was 14 days (IQR: 9–24), whereas the ICU stay was 24 days (IQR:18–44). Overall, 73 patients were alive at hospital discharge (74 %). Survival rate was similar in non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 group (73 % vs 80 %, p = 0.549).ConclusionIn this single-centre experience, before and during COVID-19 era, retrieval and ground transportation of ECMO patients was feasible and was not associated with complications. Key factors of an ECMO retrieval program include a careful selection of the transport ambulance, training of a dedicated ECMO mobile team and preparation of specific checklists and standard operating procedures.     

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and inhaled sedation in coronavirus disease 2019-related acute respiratory distress syndrome

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe complication of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and the primary cause of death in the current pandemic. Critically ill patients often undergo extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy as the last resort over an extended period. ECMO therapy requires sedation of the patient, which is usually achieved by intravenous administration of sedatives. The shortage of intravenous sedative drugs due to the ongoing pandemic, and attempts to improve treatment outcome for COVID-19 patients, drove the application of inhaled sedation as a promising alternative for sedation during ECMO therapy. Administration of volatile anesthetics requires an appropriate delivery. Commercially available ones are the anesthetic gas reflection systems AnaConDa^® and MIRUS^TM, and each should be combined with a gas scavenging system. In this review, we describe respiratory management in COVID-19 patients and the procedures for inhaled sedation during ECMO therapy of COVID-19 related ARDS. We focus particularly on the technical details of administration of volatile anesthetics. Furthermore, we describe the advantages of inhaled sedation and volatile anesthetics, and we discuss the limitations as well as the requirements for safe application in the clinical setting.     

体外膜肺氧合辅助危重患者院际转运27例临床经验

目的:总结我院ECMO团队实施体外膜肺氧合(ECMO)辅助重症患者院际转运的临床经验。方法:回顾性分析2017年2月—2021年4月期间我院ECMO团队在ECMO支持下实现院际转运的27例危重患者的临床资料。记录患者疾病种类、插管地点、插管方法、院际转运距离、转运方式、患者转运期间不良事件发生情况以及临床转归。结果:27例患者均由我院心外科ECMO团队在外院置管后转至本单位。其中男24例,女3例;平均年龄52.5岁;转运距离4~300 km。1例患者采用直升机转运,26例患者采用地面救护车转运。转运过程中无死亡事件发生,但发生8例不良事件。ECMO顺利撤机18例,患者顺利出院14例。结论:ECMO辅助下危重患者的院际转运是安全而有效的,充分而周密的准备工作可有助于减少ECMO转运途中不良事件的发生。     

The Stockholm experience: interhospital transports on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

IntroductionIn severe respiratory and/or circulatory failure, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be a lifesaving procedure. Specialized departments provide ECMO, and these patients often have to be transferred for treatment. Conventional transportation is hazardous, and deaths have been described. Only a few centers have performed more than 100 ECMO transports. To date, our mobile ECMO teams have performed more than 700 transports with patients on ECMO since 1996. We describe 4 consecutive years (2010–2013) of 322 national and international ECMO transports and report adverse events.MethodsData were retrieved from our local databases. Neonatal, pediatric and adult patients were transported, predominantly with refractory severe respiratory failure.ResultsThe patients were cannulated in 282 of the transports, and ECMO was started in these patients at the referring hospital and then they were transported to our ECMO intensive care unit. In 40 cases, the patient was already on ECMO. Of the transports, 60 % were by aircraft, and the distances varied from 6.9 to 13,447 km. In about 27.3 % of the transports, adverse events occurred. Of these, the most common were either patient-related (22 %) or equipment-related (5.3 %). No deaths occurred during transport, and transferred patients exhibited the same mortality rate as in-hospital patients.ConclusionsLong- and short-distance interhospital transports on ECMO can be safely performed. A myriad of complications can occur, but the mortality risk is very low. The staff involved should be highly competent in intensive care, ECMO physiology and physics, cannulation, intensive care transport and air transport medicine. They should also be skilled in recognition of risk factors involved in these patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-015-0994-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

高原高寒地区长途跨海拔转运新冠肺炎患者的生物安全防护规范探讨

高海拔地区长途跨海拔转运新型冠状病毒肺炎（简称“新冠肺炎”）患者的生物安全防护和应用效果问题值得探讨。我院采用多种措施,包括：多学科联合会诊,医院临时组建转运专家组,分析讨论长途转运存在的风险、困难及应对措施,制定了详细周密的转运方案,成功完成21例新冠肺炎患者长途跨海拔转运,并达到了生物安全防护要求。新冠肺炎患者的跨海拔长途转运较为特殊,任务较为紧急,准备时间较短,流程有一定的局限性,还需要不断的完善和改进,逐步建立更为全面的跨海拔长途转运体系。     

Recommendations for perinatal and neonatal surgical management during the COVID-19 pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has spread rapidly around the world and is a significant threat to global health. Patients in the Neonatal Surgery Department have rapidly progressing diseases and immature immunity, which makes them vulnerable to pulmonary infection and a relatively higher mortality. This means that these patients require multidisciplinary treatment including early diagnosis, timely transport, emergency surgery and intensive critical care. The COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat to carrying out these treatments. To provide support for the health protection requirements of the medical services in the Neonatal Surgery Department, we developed recommendations focusing on patient transport, surgery selection and protection requirements with the aim of improving treatment strategies for patients and preventing infection in medical staff during the current COVID-19 pandemic.     

超声在急性呼吸窘迫综合征围静脉-静脉体外膜氧合期中的应用价值

目的探讨经胸超声心动图、血管超声及腹部超声在急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)患者围静脉-静脉体外膜氧合(V-V ECMO)期的临床应用价值。方法选取我院拟行V-V ECMO支持治疗的ARDS患者13例,分析超声在插管前对患者基本情况的评估结果,以及在插管过程中、V-V ECMO支持治疗期间和脱机后对心脏及血管相关并发症监测情况。结果行V-V ECMO支持治疗的13例ARDS患者中,12例存活至脱机,8例存活至康复出院。V-V ECMO插管过程中,7例在超声引导下调整套管末端位置;V-V ECMO支持治疗期间,2例在超声引导下调整套管末端位置。并发症发生情况:V-V ECMO支持治疗期间血管超声提示2例套管周围血栓形成,腹部超声提示1例腹腔出血;脱机后超声心动图提示1例下腔静脉附壁血栓形成,血管超声提示1例插管同侧下肢深静脉血栓形成。围V-V ECMO期无严重不良事件发生。结论超声在V-V ECMO插管过程中、支持治疗期间及监测并发症方面均具有重要价值。     

The first case of clade I Candida auris candidemia in a patient with COVID-19 in Japan

Candida auris is a health hazard because of its antifungal resistance and the potential to cause healthcare-associated outbreaks. To our knowledge, no previous cases of candidemia caused by C. auris have been reported in Japan. Herein, we report the first known case of clade I C. auris candidemia in a Japanese man with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection who was medically evacuated from the Philippines. A 71-year-old Japanese man traveled to Cebu Island in the Philippines 5 months before admission to our hospital. He contracted severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the Philippines and was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in a local hospital. During his medical evacuation, we implemented precautions given his history of COVID-19 and pneumonia caused by multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii complex. His blood culture revealed that C. auris infection was treated with antifungal agents but he did not survive. No evidence of nosocomial transmission was found among other patients in the ICU. This case study determines that accurate detection of C. auris, appropriate antifungal agent selection, precautions, and patient isolation are crucial to prevent nosocomial outbreaks, especially in patients with a history of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) colonization or international hospitalization. Medical professionals should recognize the risk of MDROs in international medical evacuation settings, considering the recent resumption of cross-border travel after the COVID-19 pandemic.     

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for coronavirus disease 2019-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: Report of two cases and review of the literature

BACKGROUNDCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, is a worldwide pandemic. Some COVID-19 patients develop severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and progress to respiratory failure. In such cases, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment is a necessary life-saving procedure.CASE SUMMARYTwo special COVID-19 cases—one full-term pregnant woman and one elderly (72-year-old) man—were treated by veno-venous (VV)-ECMO in the Second People’s Hospital of Zhongshan, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China. Both patients had developed refractory hypoxemia shortly after hospital admission, despite conventional support, and were therefore managed by VV-ECMO. Although both experienced multiple ECMO-related complications on top of the COVID-19 disease, their conditions improved gradually. Both patients were weaned successfully from the ECMO therapy. At the time of writing of this report, the woman has recovered completely and been discharged from hospital to home; the man remains on mechanical ventilation, due to respiratory muscle weakness and suspected lung fibrosis. As ECMO itself is associated with various complications, it is very important to understand and treat these complications to achieve optimal outcome.CONCLUSIONVV-ECMO can provide sufficient gas exchange for COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, it is crucial to understand and treat ECMO-related complications.     

An analysis of patients with acute aortic dissection who were transported by physician-staffed helicopter

PurposeThe present study aimed to determine whether or not patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD) treated by the staff of a doctor helicopter (DH) service while being transported from the scene or for interhospital transportation obtained a favorable outcome.MethodsWe retrospectively investigated all patients with AAD who were transported by DH between January 2015 and December 2019 using the registry data of the DH control room of our hospital.ResultsOne hundred five cases were enrolled in the present study. All patients were transported within 24 h from the onset. Male patients accounted for 55.2% of the study population, the average age was 71 years and the rate of Stanford A AAD was 51.4%. Regarding transportation, 61.6% of the patients underwent interhospital transportation, and 42.8% were transported to our hospital. All patients underwent drip infusion during transportation and 81.9% of the patients received drugs (e.g., depressors, pain killers and/or antiemetics). Two patients underwent tracheal intubation due to unconsciousness and profound shock with restless state, respectively. The systolic blood pressure after transportation to hospital was significantly higher in comparison to before transportation. No patients suffered cardiac arrest or showed a deterioration of vital signs. All patients were safely transported to the destination.ConclusionThe present study suggests the safety of using a Dr. Heli to transport AAD patients from the scene and for interhospital transportation, even after the onset.     

Referral and transportation for neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Data from 32 patients who were transported for neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) over a 66-month period were reviewed. One ground ambulance transport had to be postponed because of poor weather conditions; the patient died. One patient was excluded for ECMO on arrival at the ECMO centre. Of the remaining 30 infants, 20 (67%) required ECMO treatment, of which four (20%) died. All 10 (33%) patients who were treated with conventional therapy survived. During transportation all children remained stable in terms of oxygenation. Early referral and transportation by an experienced and well-equipped transport team allows safe transport of these critically ill neonates.     

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults after acute coronavirus disease 2019 in a Japanese woman: A case report

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) is a rare and emerging syndrome after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To the best of our knowledge, Japanese cases of MIS-A are rarely reported. Here, we describe a case of MIS-A in a 44-year-old Japanese woman presenting with multiorgan dysfunction (i.e., cardiovascular and mucocutaneous involvement) and markedly elevated inflammatory markers 2 weeks after recovery from COVID-19. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins and corticosteroids resolved her symptoms. On the 13th day, she was discharged from the hospital with no recurrences on follow-up. This study highlights the importance of recognizing this emerging syndrome when treating patients with multiorgan dysfunction after COVID-19.     

Implementing Nurse Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Specialists to Maintain a Sustainable Program

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) offers hope for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome when other treatment methods fail. However, ECMO requires continuous hourly management leading to extremely high operating costs. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the high number of patients on ECMO led to a significant increase in the costs when using perfusionists to manage ECMO. Switching to a nurse-driven model resulted in a 52% decrease in costs related to the hourly management. Changing to a nurse-driven program provided increased nursing support and sustainability, and with determination and support, other ECMO centers can also change to nurse-driven programs.     

TAFRO syndrome with a fatal clinical course following BNT162b2 mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccination: A case report

TAFRO syndrome is a rare disorder that manifests as thrombocytopenia, anasarca, fever, reticulin myelofibrosis, renal dysfunction, and organomegaly. Although this disease often follows a severe clinical course, the cause remains unknown. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a major global problem. Vaccination against COVID-19 has been successful; however, there are concerns about severe adverse events. Herein, we report a rare presentation of TAFRO syndrome triggered by the COVID-19 vaccine with a fatal clinical course. A 42-year-old Japanese man presented to our hospital complaining of fever lasting for 2 weeks that occurred a day after receiving the BNT162b2 mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccine. The patient had a low platelet count, ascites, reticulin myelofibrosis, renal failure, and lymphadenopathy and was diagnosed with TAFRO syndrome. Despite administering several immunosuppressive drugs, the condition did not improve. The patient repetitively developed and eventually died of bacteremia caused by multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. We highlight the first reported case of TAFRO syndrome after COVID-19 vaccination.     

The Italian ECMO network experience during the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic: preparation for severe respiratory emergency outbreaks

Purpose

In view of the expected 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, the Italian Health Authorities set up a national referral network of selected intensive care units (ICU) able to provide advanced respiratory care up to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We describe the organization and results of the network, known as ECMOnet.

Methods

The network consisted of 14 ICUs with ECMO capability and a national call center. The network was set up to centralize all severe patients to the ECMOnet centers assuring safe transfer. An ad hoc committee defined criteria for both patient transfer and ECMO institutions.

Results

Between August 2009 and March 2010, 153 critically ill patients (53% referred from other hospitals) were admitted to the ECMOnet ICU with suspected H1N1. Sixty patients (48 of the referred patients, 49 with confirmed H1N1 diagnosis) received ECMO according to ECMOnet criteria. All referred patients were successfully transferred to the ECMOnet centers; 28 were transferred while on ECMO. Survival to hospital discharge in patients receiving ECMO was 68%. Survival of patients receiving ECMO within 7?days from the onset of mechanical ventilation was 77%. The length of mechanical ventilation prior to ECMO was an independent predictor of mortality.

Conclusions

A network organization based on preemptive patient centralization allowed a high survival rate and provided effective and safe referral of patients with severe H1N1-suspected ARDS.     

Utilization of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during the COVID-19 pandemic

The ongoing outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 [SARS-CoV-2, or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)] was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Worldwide, more than 65 million people have been infected with this SARS-CoV-2 virus, and over 1.5 million people have died due to the viral illness. Although a tremendous amount of medical progress has been made since its inception, there continues to be ongoing research regarding the pathophysiology, treatments, and vaccines. While a vast majority of those infected develop only mild to moderate symptoms, about 5% of people have severe forms of infection resulting in respiratory failure, myocarditis, septic shock, or multi-organ failure. Despite maximal cardiopulmonary support and invasive mechanical ventilation, mortality remains high. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remains a valid treatment option when maximal conventional strategies fail. Utilization of ECMO in the pandemic is challenging from both resource allocation and ethical standpoints. This article reviews the rationale behind its use, current status of utilization, and future considerations for ECMO in critically ill COVID-19 patients.     

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): A primer for emergency physicians

IntroductionRapid worldwide spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in a global pandemic.ObjectiveThis review article provides emergency physicians with an overview of the most current understanding of COVID-19 and recommendations on the evaluation and management of patients with suspected COVID-19.DiscussionSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for causing COVID-19, is primarily transmitted from person-to-person through close contact (approximately 6 ft) by respiratory droplets. Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to other viral upper respiratory illnesses. Three major trajectories include mild disease with upper respiratory symptoms, non-severe pneumonia, and severe pneumonia complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Emergency physicians should focus on identifying patients at risk, isolating suspected patients, and informing hospital infection prevention and public health authorities. Patients with suspected COVID-19 should be asked to wear a facemask. Respiratory etiquette, hand washing, and personal protective equipment are recommended for all healthcare personnel caring for suspected cases. Disposition depends on patient symptoms, hemodynamic status, and patient ability to self-quarantine.ConclusionThis narrative review provides clinicians with an updated approach to the evaluation and management of patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected COVID-19.