1,721,201 research outputs found
Is there light at the end of the tunnel?-New perspectives in ECMO survival
No full textCardiogenic shock (CS) is a state of systemic hypoperfusion, secondary to a deficit in cardiac contractile activity. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) accounts for the majority of cases of CS, with a high mortality rate, despite the great improvements in revascularisation therapy. Nowadays, mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in CS often represents the only therapeutic approach able to restore systemic perfusion, determining a survival benefit. Recently, many efforts have been made to identify factors associated with mortality in patients receiving MCS devices. New insights into the pathophysiology of CS prompted the concept that the use of MCS should be considered early in the course of the disease, before the progression to multiorgan dysfunction. However, many questions remain unsolved and randomised trials in this field are hard to perform. Looking at the future, the timely implantation of temporary MCS, the correct selection of patient, the concomitant use of different temporary devices, the improvement in weaning strategies and the increasing use of durable devices as a destination or bridge therapy appear to be the most promising areas of development
Concomitant use of Impella while on peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: De-escalate and ambulate
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Do We Need Heparin Coating for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation? New Concepts and Controversial Positions About Coating Surfaces of Extracorporeal Circuits
No full textBlood contact with surfaces of the extracorporeal circuit provokes the activation of the coagulation system. To improve biocompatibility of the extracorporeal circuit without increasing the risk of bleeding, coatings of artificial surfaces were designed; many of them involve the use of heparin. Data in the literature show that heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is a major issue in the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation scenario, and no relevant benefits have been shown comparing heparin and no-heparin coating
Femoro-jugular cannulation in veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation PRO/CON
No full textVeno-venous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is the most efficient technique for respiratory support. It is based on a patient adequate circulation and cardiac function and it is indicated for isolated lung failure after optimization of the ventilatory support and the medical treatment. We describe PRO and CONs of the Femoro-jugular (F>J) approach, as an ideal setting for patients which require high flow (>5 L/min), such as those with extreme hypoxemia and/or septic shock. This technique can be accomplished very quickly at the bedside also in an unstable patient
Adjunctive therapies during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
No full textVeno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) restores gas exchanges in severely hypoxemic patients. The need for adjunctive therapies usually originates either from refractory hypoxemia during ECMO (defined as the persistence of low blood oxygen levels despite extracorporeal support) or from the attempt to give a specific therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this review, therapeutic strategies to treat refractory and persistent hypoxemia during ECMO are evaluated. In the second part, therapies that can be added on top of VV ECMO to address inflammation and altered vascular permeability in ARDS are examined. The therapies currently available often allow for an effective treatment of hypoxemia during ECMO. ARDS is still lacking a specific therapy, with low-grade evidence sustaining the majority of currently used drugs
Future Perspectives of Mechanical Circulatory Support with Left Ventricular Assist Devices: Lessons Learned from the HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device
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