Abstract: Systemic inflammation is a key characteristic of sepsis but also also in non-infectious conditions such as post-cardiac arrest syndrome. Cytokine adsorption and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation are emerging therapies applied in these critically ill patients, but the experience with their concurrent use is limited. We evaluated cytokine adsorption in critically ill patients requiring support with either veno-venous (vv) or veno-arterial (va) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support and hypothesized that adsorber incorporation into the ECMO circuit was technically feasible and not associated with imminent risk. We analyzed data from the first six cases of a prospective single-center registry of patients undergoing veno-venous (vv) or veno-arterial (va) ECMO therapy. While in most published cases cytokine adsorbers were inserted into a hemofiltration circuit, we directly incorporated the adsorber into the ECMO circuit without interruption of continuous ECMO support. We observed no relevant side effects attributable to cytokine adsorption. Thirty-day mortality was 83% (predicted mortality 87%), indicating that the decision for adding cytokine adsorption may have been considered as an ultima ratio decision in severe cases with poor prognosis. Vasopressor or inotrope use, lactate level, and fluid balance did not change significantly when comparing pre- vs. post-cytokine adsorption values. Interestingly, the real-time course of the mentioned three surrogate parameters remained unaltered in all but two cases, regardless of cytokine removal. Beneficial effects of cytokine adsorption are plausible in two va-ECMO-treated patient, where increasing lactate began to drop after initiation of cytokine adsorption. Taken together, these data suggest that incorporation of cytokine adsorption into the management of critically ill patients requiring continued ECMO support is feasible and easy to handle. Whether cytokine removal improves clinical outcome in ECMO-treated patients should now be investigated in randomized controlled trials

Abstract: ntroduction: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) might be a lifesaving therapy for patients with cardiac arrest and no return of spontaneous circulation during advanced life support. However, even with ECPR, mortality of these severely sick patients is high. Little is known on the exact mode of death in these patients. Methods: Retrospective registry analysis of all consecutive patients undergoing ECPR between May 2011 and May 2020 at a single center. Mode of death was judged by two researchers. Results: A total of 274 ECPR cases were included (age 60.0 years, 47.1% shockable initial rhythm, median time-to-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) 53.8min, hospital survival 25.9%). The 71 survivors had shorter time-to-ECMO durations (46.0 ± 27.9 vs. 56.6 ± 28.8min, p

Abstract: Background Mobilization is important in longer courses in intensive care unit (ICU), typical for patients requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO). For patients supported with ECMO, especially out-of-bed mobilizations improve outcome. We hypothesized that utilization of a dual lumen cannula (DLC) for V-V ECMO would facilitate out-of-bed mobilization compared to single lumen cannulas (SLC). Methods Retrospective single center registry study including all V-V ECMO patients cannulated between 10/2010 and 05/2021 for respiratory failure. Results The registry included 355 V-V ECMO patients (median age 55.6 years, 31.8% female, 27.3% with preexisting pulmonary disease), 289/355 (81.4%) primary cannulated with DLC, and 66/355 (18.6%) using SLC. Both groups had similar pre-ECMO characteristics. The runtime of the first ECMO cannula was significantly longer in DLC compared to SLC (169 vs. 115 h, p = 0.015). The frequency of prone positioning during V-V ECMO was similar in both groups (38.4 vs. 34.8%, p = 0.673). There was no difference in in-bed mobilization (41.2 vs. 36.4%, for DLC and SLC, respectively, p = 0.491). Patients with DLC were more often mobilized out-of-bed (25.6 vs. 12.1%, OR 2.495 [95% CI 1.150 to 5.268], for DLC and SLC, respectively, p = 0.023). Hospital survival was similar in both groups (46.4 vs. 39.4%, for DLC and SLC, respectively, p = 0.339). Conclusion Patients cannulated with a dual lumen cannula for V-V ECMO support were significantly more often mobilized out-of-bed. Since mobilization is important in prolonged ICU courses typical for ECMO patients, this might be an important benefit. Other benefits of DLC were the longer runtime of the initial cannula set and fewer suction events

Abstract: Background In patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), volume overload is usually described as an expansion of plasma volume (PV). Additional red cell volume (RCV) expansion also occurs in a relevant fraction of compensated CHF patients. So far, little is known about the stability of these vascular volumes and possible volume excess in compensated CHF patients over time. Methods and results This study aims at quantification of blood volume and its components, RCV and PV (raw values and adjusted for sex and anthropometric characteristics, expressed as per cent of the expected normal value), using an abbreviated carbon monoxide (CO) rebreathing method (aCORM) in 14 patients (two women) with systolic CHF at baseline and at a follow-up visit after approximately 6 months. While a vast heterogeneity was observed concerning RCV (82% to 134% of normalized alues) and PV (72% to 131% of normalized values), the vascular volumes showed a mean change of 1.2% and −1.3% after a mean follow-up of 183 days. Conclusions The vascular volumes including individual volume excess appear to be stable in compensated CHF patients. The reason for this individual volume response concerning both RCV and PV in CHF remains unclear and deserves further clarification