Abstract
Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240210en
DOI 10.62675/2965-2774.20240210-en
Driving pressure has been suggested to be the main driver of ventilator-induced lung injury and mortality in observational studies of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Whether a driving pressure-limiting strategy can improve clinical outcomes is unclear.
To describe the protocol and statistical analysis plan that will be used to test whether a driving pressure-limiting strategy including positive end-expiratory pressure titration according to the best respiratory compliance and reduction in tidal volume is superior to a standard strategy involving the use of the ARDSNet low-positive end-expiratory pressure table in terms of increasing the number of ventilator-free days in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to community-acquired pneumonia.
The ventilator STrAtegy for coMmunIty acquired pNeumoniA (STAMINA) study is a randomized, multicenter, open-label trial that compares a driving pressure-limiting strategy to the ARDSnet low-positive end-expiratory pressure table in patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome due to community-acquired pneumonia admitted to intensive care units. We expect to recruit 500 patients from 20 Brazilian and 2 Colombian intensive care units. They will be randomized to a driving pressure-limiting strategy group or to a standard strategy using the ARDSNet low-positive end-expiratory pressure table. In the driving pressure-limiting strategy group, positive end-expiratory pressure will be titrated according to the best respiratory system compliance.
The primary outcome is the number of ventilator-free days within 28 days. The secondary outcomes are in-hospital and intensive care unit mortality and the need for rescue therapies such as extracorporeal life support, recruitment maneuvers and inhaled nitric oxide.
STAMINA is designed to provide evidence on whether a driving pressure-limiting strategy is superior to the ARDSNet low-positive end-expiratory pressure table strategy for increasing the number of ventilator-free days within 28 days in patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Here, we describe the rationale, design and status of the trial.
Abstract
Crit Care Sci. 2023;35(1):57-65
DOI 10.5935/2965-2774.20230350-pt
To assess Brazilian pediatric intensivists’ general knowledge of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, including evidence for its use, the national funding model, indications, and complications.
This was a multicenter cross-sectional survey including 45 Brazilian pediatric intensive care units. A convenience sample of 654 intensivists was surveyed regarding their knowledge on managing patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, its indications, complications, funding, and literature evidence.
The survey addressed questions regarding the knowledge and experience of pediatric intensivists with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, including two clinical cases and 6 optional questions about the management of patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Of the 45 invited centers, 42 (91%) participated in the study, and 412 of 654 (63%) pediatric intensivists responded to the survey. Most pediatric intensive care units were from the Southeast region of Brazil (59.5%), and private/for-profit hospitals represented 28.6% of the participating centers. The average age of respondents was 41.4 (standard deviation 9.1) years, and the majority (77%) were women. Only 12.4% of respondents had taken an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation course. Only 19% of surveyed hospitals have an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program, and only 27% of intensivists reported having already managed patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Specific extracorporeal membrane oxygenation management questions were responded to by only 64 physicians (15.5%), who had a fair/good correct response rate (median 63.4%; range 32.8% to 91.9%).
Most Brazilian pediatric intensivists demonstrated limited knowledge regarding extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, including its indications and complications. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is not yet widely available in Brazil, with few intensivists prepared to manage patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and even fewer intensivists recognizing when to refer patients to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers.
Abstract
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2022;34(4):402-409
DOI 10.5935/0103-507X.20220299-en
To characterize the pressures, resistances, oxygenation, and decarboxylation efficacy of two oxygenators associated in series or in parallel during venous-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.
Using the results of a swine severe respiratory failure associated with multiple organ dysfunction venous-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support model and mathematical modeling, we explored the effects on oxygenation, decarboxylation and circuit pressures of in-parallel and in-series associations of oxygenators.
Five animals with a median weight of 80kg were tested. Both configurations increased the oxygen partial pressure after the oxygenators. The return cannula oxygen content was also slightly higher, but the impact on systemic oxygenation was minimal using oxygenators with a high rated flow (~ 7L/minute). Both configurations significantly reduced the systemic carbon dioxide partial pressure. As the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation blood flow increased, the oxygenator resistance decreased initially with a further increase with higher blood flows but with a small clinical impact.
Association of oxygenators in parallel or in series during venous-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support provides a modest increase in carbon dioxide partial pressure removal with a slight improvement in oxygenation. The effect of oxygenator associations on extracorporeal circuit pressures is minimal.
Abstract
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2022;34(4):524-528
DOI 10.5935/0103-507X.20220342-en
Acute massive pulmonary embolism is the most serious presentation of venous thromboembolism that can ultimately cause obstructive shock, leading to cardiac arrest and death. In this case report, the authors present a case of a 49-year-old female who successfully recovered from a massive pulmonary embolism with the combined use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and pulmonary aspiration thrombectomy, with no complications from these procedures. Although evidence of benefit from mechanical support has not been established for patients with massive pulmonary embolism, the implementation of extracorporeal cardiocirculatory support during resuscitation may allow improvement of systemic organ perfusion and better chance of survival. Recent guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology state that venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in combination with catheter-directed treatment may be considered for patients presenting with massive pulmonary embolism and refractory cardiac arrest. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a stand-alone technique with anticoagulation remains controversial, and additional therapies, such as surgical or percutaneous embolectomy, must be considered. Since this intervention is not supported by high-quality studies, we believe it is important to report real-world successful cases. With this case report, we illustrate the benefit derived from resuscitation assisted by extracorporeal mechanical support and early aspiration thrombectomy in patients with massive pulmonary embolism. Additionally, it emphasizes the synergy that derives from integrated multidisciplinary systems for providing complex interventions, of which extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and Interventional Cardiology are clear examples.
Abstract
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2022;34(4):519-523
DOI 10.5935/0103-507X.20220314-en
A healthy 55-year-old woman unvaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 was admitted to the hospital with a SARS-CoV-2 infection with rapid clinical deterioration. On the 17th day of disease, she was intubated, and on the 24th day, the patient was referred and admitted to our extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support was initially used to enable lung recovery and allow the patient to rehabilitate and improve her physical condition. Despite an adequate physical condition, the lung function was not adequate to discontinue extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and the patient was considered for lung transplantation. The intensive rehabilitation program was implemented to improve and maintain the physical status throughout all phases. The extracorporeal membrane oxygenation run had several complications that hindered successful rehabilitation: right ventricular failure that required venoarterial-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for 10 days; six nosocomial infections, four with progression to septic shock; and knee hemarthrosis. To reduce the risk of infection, invasive devices (i.e., invasive mechanical ventilation, central venous catheter, and vesical catheter) were removed whenever possible, keeping only those essential for monitoring and care. After 162 days of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support without other organ dysfunction, bilateral lobar lung transplantation was performed. Physical and respiratory rehabilitation were continued to promote independence in daily life activities. Four months after surgery, the patient was discharged.
Abstract
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2021;33(4):544-548
DOI 10.5935/0103-507X.20210082
To evaluate whether there was any impact on the number of pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation runs and survival rates in the years subsequent to the 2009 pandemic.
We studied two different periods of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for respiratory failure in children by analyzing datasets from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. Autoregressive integrated moving average models were constructed to estimate the effect of the pandemic. The year 2009 was the year of intervention (the H1N1 epidemic) in an interrupted time series model. Data collected from 2001 - 2010 were considered preintervention, and data collected from 2010 - 2017 were considered postintervention.
There was an increase in survival rates in the period 2010 - 2017 compared to 2001 - 2010 (p < 0.0001), with a significant improvement in survival when extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was performed for acute respiratory failure due to viral pneumonia. The autoregressive integrated moving average model shows an increase of 23 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation runs per year, prior to the point of the level effect (2009). In terms of survival, the preslope shows that there was no significant increase in survival rates before 2009 (p = 0.41), but the level effect was nearly significant after two years (p = 0.05), with a 6% increase in survival. In four years, there was an 8% (p = 0.03) increase in survival, and six years after 2009, there was up to a 10% (p = 0.026) increase in survival.
In the years following 2009, there was a significant, global incremental increase in the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation survival rates for all runs, mainly due to improvements in the technology and treatment protocols for acute respiratory failure related to viral pneumonia and other respiratory conditions.
Abstract
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2021;33(3):457-460
DOI 10.5935/0103-507X.20210067
A 63-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with an acute history of fever, prostration and dyspnea. She was diagnosed with severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome and, despite optimized critical care support, met the indications for veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. On day 34, after 7 days of wean sedation with a positive evolution of neurologic status, she presented a limited generalized tonic-clonic seizure not related to hydroelectrolytic or metabolic imbalance, which led to a diagnostic investigation; her brain imaging tests showed a posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. This case emphasizes the issue of neurological complications in patients with severe COVID-19 infection and the importance of early diagnosis and support.
Abstract
Rev Bras Ter Intensiva. 2020;32(3):468-473
DOI 10.5935/0103-507X.20200077
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is used as extracirculatory support for the care of patients with severe and reversible cardiac and/or respiratory failure. Neurological complications may be related to the procedure. Given the unfavorable neurological evolution and the need to perform a brain death protocol, the performance of an apnea test in this context remains a challenge. We report the use of an apnea test for the diagnosis of brain death post-cardiac surgery in a patient receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.