Extracorporeal respiratory support in adult patients

ABSTRACT

In patients with severe respiratory failure, either hypoxemic or hypercapnic, life support with mechanical ventilation alone can be insufficient to meet their needs, especially if one tries to avoid ventilator settings that can cause injury to the lungs. In those patients, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which is also very effective in removing carbon dioxide from the blood, can provide life support, allowing the application of protective lung ventilation. In this review article, we aim to explore some of the most relevant aspects of using ECMO for respiratory support. We discuss the history of respiratory support using ECMO in adults, as well as the clinical evidence; costs; indications; installation of the equipment; ventilator settings; daily care of the patient and the system; common troubleshooting; weaning; and discontinuation.

Keywords:
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Respiratory distress syndrome, adult; Hypoxia; Hypercapnia

RESUMO

Em pacientes com insuficiência respiratória grave (hipoxêmica ou hipercápnica), o suporte somente com ventilação mecânica pode ser insuficiente para suas necessidades, especialmente quando se tenta evitar o uso de parâmetros ventilatórios que possam causar danos aos pulmões. Nesses pacientes, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO, oxigenação extracorpórea por membrana), que também é muito eficaz na remoção de dióxido de carbono do sangue, pode manter a vida, permitindo o uso de ventilação pulmonar protetora. No presente artigo de revisão, objetivamos explorar alguns dos aspectos mais relevantes do suporte respiratório por ECMO. Discutimos a história do suporte respiratório por ECMO em adultos; evidências clínicas; custos; indicações; instalação do equipamento; parâmetros ventilatórios; cuidado diário do paciente e do sistema; solução de problemas comuns; desmame e descontinuação.

Descritores:
Oxigenação por membrana extracorpórea; Síndrome do desconforto respiratório do adulto; Anóxia; Hipercapnia

INTRODUCTION

Patients with severe ARDS presenting with refractory hypoxemia or hypercapnia have mortality rates that vary from 45% to 90% depending on the definition of refractoriness.^1,2 Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used worldwide with encouraging results as rescue therapy for severe ARDS in adult patients.^3-6 ECMO is able to provide blood oxygenation, carbon dioxide removal, and circulatory support when suitable, allowing protective/ultraprotective mechanical ventilation.⁷ In the present review, we aimed to explore some of the most relevant aspects involved in respiratory support using ECMO.

ECMO FOR RESPIRATORY SUPPORT IN ADULTS: HISTORY AND CLINICAL EVIDENCE

After an initial sequence of positive results with the use of ECMO in severely hypoxemic patients with ARDS,^8,9 the growing interest in ECMO support led to the first randomized clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health.¹⁰ That trial was based on the rationale that hypoxemia and hypercapnia are the determinants of death in ARDS patients. Therefore, patients in the intervention group were supported with ECMO in order to improve their blood gases, and the ventilator settings were kept similar to those in the control group. The trial was interrupted early due to the equally high mortality rates in both groups.

After that trial, a group in Italy¹¹ published their experience using ECMO support in 43 patients, in whom high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) values (15-25 cmH₂O), together with what they considered low peak pressures (35-45 cmH₂O) and low RR (3-5 breaths/min), were applied with the rationale of reducing the lung injury caused by the ventilator. In that case series, with an expected mortality rate of over 90%, survival was considered good in the 21 patients (49%) who had been discharged home. The hypothesis that the quasi-apneic ventilation (made possible because of ECMO) promoted lung protection generated enthusiasm again, leading to the second trial of ECMO for respiratory support in patients with severe ARDS in the United States, also funded by the National Institutes of Health.¹² Again, the trial results were disappointing, showing similar rates of survival in both groups (38%).

Despite that second setback, respiratory ECMO remained in use as a rescue therapy for severe hypoxemia or hypercapnia. With the growing knowledge of the substantial contribution of ventilator-induced lung injury as a cause of death in ARDS patients,¹³ various groups published their experiences with the novel rationale of using respiratory ECMO to promote protective or ultraprotective ventilation, using peak airway pressures < 20-25 cmH₂O and very low tidal volumes (0.5-1.0 mL/kg). Some authors also showed that it was possible to use less sedation in order to allow more efficient interaction with the patient.^3,7 In those studies, survival rates among those severely ill patients with ARDS were as high as 88%.

Based on those favorable experiences, a multicenter randomized controlled trial was performed in the United Kingdom (UK) by the National Health System.⁴ A total of 180 patients with severe ARDS were randomized to undergo conventional low airway pressure ventilation (in a local hospital) or ultraprotective ventilation using ECMO for respiratory support. Patients randomized to the ECMO group were transferred by the British Royal Air Force to Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, UK, without ECMO support. At that hospital, after approximately 12 h of protective ventilation, ECMO support was started if severe respiratory failure persisted. In that trial, ECMO was considered a cost-effective strategy for the UK. However, only 68 of the 90 patients randomized to the ECMO group actually received ECMO. The remaining 22 patients (24%) improved during the 12-h period of observation on protective mechanical ventilation. In a sense, the real hypothesis tested was whether the referral strategy, rather than the ECMO support, was effective.

The big ECMO boom occurred in 2009 with the publication of the abovementioned trial,⁴ as well as with the outbreak of pandemic influenza A (H1N1). A great number of patients developed severe hypoxemic respiratory failure and received ECMO support. Survival rates in those patients were surprisingly high (above 70%)^5,6,14,15 despite the severity of their respiratory failure.

In conclusion, the current evidence favors the use of ECMO for respiratory support in adult patients with severe ARDS. However, the evidence is still scant and weak while we await the results of the ongoing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (EOLIA) trial, which is estimated to be completed in February of 2018.¹⁶

ECMO CONFIGURATION

The venovenous (vv) and venoarterial (va) ECMO configurations are shown in Figure 1. For respiratory purposes, we favor the use of the vv-ECMO configuration, which can adequately oxygenate blood and remove CO₂, allowing the use of gentle, protective mechanical ventilation. In the vv configuration, the oxygenator is in series with the native lungs; therefore, the residual function of the lungs remains important for systemic oxygenation.

Figure 1
Basic extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) configurations. Panel A shows the venovenous ECMO configuration, in which the extracorporeal system is in series with the lungs, providing only respiratory support. Panel B shows the venoarterial ECMO configuration, in which the extracorporeal system is in parallel with the heart and lungs, providing respiratory and cardiovascular support.

The vv configuration does not provide circulatory support. For patients with respiratory failure but without severe circulatory dysfunction, vv-ECMO is associated with outcomes similar to those of va-ECMO, but with fewer complications.^17,18 In patients with severe ARDS and shock, hemodynamic instability can be due to an associated medical condition (e.g., sepsis and severe left ventricular dysfunction). In that scenario, va-ECMO is indicated in order to provide respiratory and circulatory support. Alternatively, shock can be secondary to acute cor pulmonale, a condition found in more than 22% of the patients on protective ventilation, with severe hypoxemia, or with acidemia. ¹⁹ Such conditions justify an attempt to use vv-ECMO even in patients with shock. Restoration of blood gases towards normal obtained with vv-ECMO can reduce pulmonary artery pressure and improve right ventricular function.²⁰ If that attempt with vv-ECMO fails, the patient can be switched to a hybrid configuration or to a va configuration.

Depending on the clinical indication, different hybrid cannulations can be used.²¹ The two classical reasons to use a hybrid configuration are to improve blood drainage (to provide circulatory support) and to avoid the Harlequin syndrome (hypoxemia restricted to the upper part of the body). Sometimes the blood flow through the vein does not meet the demand generated by the pump. As a result, the negative pressure can suck the venous wall into the access ports of the cannula, a situation referred to as the "sucking-up" phenomenon, leading to transient obstruction of the inlets and to a decrease in ECMO blood flow. The obstruction is usually brief (sometimes fractions of a second) until the vein is again filled with blood originating from the venous return. The process repeats itself indefinitely and usually leads to the chattering of the ECMO circuit. Prompt corrections involve either reducing ECMO blood flow (which might worsen hypoxemia) or administering fluid challenges (which can worsen lung function). An alternative solution is the insertion of an additional venous cannula using a "Y" piece in order to improve venous drainage. This hybrid configuration is known as venoarterial-venous (vav)-ECMO.

To avoid the Harlequin syndrome, a single-lumen (venous) cannula can be inserted, and blood return can occur through arterial and venous cannulas connected to a "Y" piece (vav-ECMO configuration). This configuration can be derived from an ongoing va- or vv-ECMO support session.

ECMO PHYSIOLOGY AND CIRCUIT

To reach adequate arterial oxygenation, extracorporeal blood flows higher than 60% of the cardiac output (> 3 L/min) are frequently necessary. Such flows are obtained by using peristaltic or centrifugal pumps, large-bore cannulas, and a circuit. The large diameter of the cannulas is important to avoid significant hemolysis. Although peristaltic and centrifugal pumps induce comparable amounts of hemolysis, we favor the use of the latter in the ICU, because they are able to avoid circuit rupture in the rare instance that blood flow obstruction occurs. Blood drains through a venous circuit, in which negative pressures as low as between −30 and −104 mmHg can be reached, passes through the pump, is propelled to the oxygenator with pressures up to the 350-400 mmHg range, and is then returned to the patient (Figure 2). In modern oxygenators, resistance to the passage of blood is low, although it still increases at higher blood flows and at higher temperatures.²²

Figure 2
Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) configuration and possible connections with a hemofilter, with or without a dialysis machine. The drainage cannula is inserted into the femoral vein and advanced up to the inferior vena cava (IVC), whereas the return cannula is inserted into the internal jugular vein and advanced up to the superior vena cava (SVC). In this example, blood is drained by the suctioning action of a centrifugal pump into the negative-pressure side of the extracorporeal circuit. Downstream of the pump, blood is propelled into the positive-pressure side of the circuit, crosses the oxygenator, and is returned to the SVC. The dashed lines indicate different possibilities of connection to a hemofilter-downstream of the oxygenator (path A); downstream of the pump and upstream of the oxygenator (path B); upstream of the ECMO pump (path C); downstream of the ECMO pump (positive-pressure side, path D); and upstream of the ECMO pump (negative-pressure side, path E)-in patients requiring simultaneous renal replacement therapy.

The oxygenator promotes gas exchange based on the diffusion principle. Fresh gas (or sweep gas), rich in oxygen and devoid of CO₂, crosses a respiratory membrane (polymethylpentene hollow fibers) in countercurrent flow with venous blood. The CO₂ removal from the blood is highly effective, depending on the blood flow, sweep gas flow, and venous CO₂ concentration.²³ Oxygen transfer can be more complicated, because it depends on blood flow, total oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood (which is mainly determined by hemoglobin concentration), and the effectiveness of oxygen diffusion through the respiratory membrane, which is 16-20 times lower than that of CO₂ diffusion. At low blood flows, the partial pressure of oxygen in the return circuit is very high, and oxygen transfer is mainly perfusion-limited. At higher blood flows, the partial oxygen pressure in the return circuit decreases, even though hemoglobin saturation remains high and oxygen transfer is both diffusion- and perfusion-limited. As a result, arterial blood oxygenation improves with increases in blood flow through the ECMO system despite the diffusion-determined loss of efficiency. ²⁴ The sweep gas flow has little impact on oxygen transfer.²⁵

In the vv-ECMO support configuration, systemic oxygenation depends on cardiac output, residual function of the native lungs, and vv-ECMO blood flow, whereas arterial CO₂ elimination mainly depends on the ECMO sweep gas flow, cardiac output, CO₂ production, and residual function of the native lungs. In the peripheral va-ECMO configuration (the most common venoarterial insertion used in the ICU at the bedside), blood is returned to the aorta against the flow of blood ejected by the left ventricle during systole. At low cardiac outputs, the coronary arteries, brachiocephalic trunk, left carotid artery, and left subclavian artery receive oxygenated blood returning from the ECMO system. If cardiac output improves and the lungs continue to show poor residual function, the upper half of the body can receive deoxygenated blood coming from the pulmonary veins, whereas the lower half of the body receives oxygenated blood coming from the ECMO circuit, a situation known as the Harlequin syndrome.

ECMO COSTS AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS

The cost of ECMO support is high. At current prices in Brazil, the equipment costs from US$ 8,000 to US$ 36,000 per patient. The gain in cost-effectiveness per quality-adjusted life year is reasonable in developed countries,⁴ and it is possibly acceptable in Brazil.²⁶

SUITABLE CANDIDATES FOR ECMO FOR RESPIRATORY SUPPORT

ECMO for respiratory support is potentially useful in patients with severe hypoxemia or severe hypercapnia, resulting in low pH (usually < 7.20) despite lung-protective mechanical ventilation. ECMO support is often tried after failed attempts at multiple rescue therapies, such as prone positioning, alveolar recruitment maneuvers, and use of nitric oxide, alone or in combination.

Our group uses the following inclusion criteria²⁷:

Major criteria (both required)

• Acute pulmonary disease

• Possibility of recovery from disease

• Complementary criteria (at least one required)

• PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio < 50 mmHg with an FiO₂ = 1 for at least 1 h, with or without rescue maneuvers

• PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio < 50 mmHg with an FiO₂ > 0.8 for at least 3 h, despite rescue maneuvers

• Hypercapnia with a pH < 7.2 despite an RR > 35 breaths/min, requiring tidal volumes ≥ 6 mL/kg of ideal body weight and plateau pressures > 30 cmH₂O

• Murray's score (lung injury score) > 3.0 in the presence of clinical deterioration

ECMO support is contraindicated in patients with chronic illnesses that impair their quality of life and in those with severe acute multiorgan dysfunction. Some scores can be used in order to predict mortality in patients on ECMO for respiratory support.^28,29 One of those (Respiratory Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Survival Prediction)²⁹ is easily accessible from the Internet (www.respscore.com) and provides prognostic information that can be used in order to help select the patients. Being > 75 years of age is considered by some a relative contraindication. Long duration of mechanical ventilation prior to ECMO support initiation (generally > 7 days) is strongly associated with a poor prognosis and is also a relative contraindication to ECMO support.^28,29

VASCULAR CANNULATION

Only peripheral venous cannulations, which are usually done at the bedside using the Seldinger technique, will be discussed here. An ultrasound vascular examination helps to select the cannulas, generally with a gauge 2 mm smaller than the vessel diameter.²⁷ The ultrasound also allows safe vascular punctures and the correct positioning of the cannulas.³⁰

Using the vv-ECMO configuration, the drainage cannula (19-25 Fr/55-70 cm of length) is usually inserted into the femoral vein. The oxygenated venous blood returns to the patient using the reinfusion cannula, also known as arterial cannula (17-19 Fr/30-40 cm in length). The femoral-jugular configuration (with venous and arterial cannulas, respectively) is the most widely studied configuration and can provide blood flows within the 6-7 L/min range with little recirculation.³¹ To optimize drainage, we favor placing the venous cannula at the junction of the inferior vena cava with the right atrium. The jugular-femoral configuration (with venous and arterial cannulas, respectively)³ and the femoral-femoral configurations have also been used by experienced ECMO groups,⁶ although higher recirculation has been reported when those configurations are compared with the femoral-jugular configuration.^31,32) The double-lumen (bicaval) cannula is another option to provide vv-ECMO support. The cannula is inserted through the jugular vein and must be positioned using transesophageal echocardiography or fluoroscopy. These double-lumen cannulas, which are still unavailable for clinical use in Brazil, have been associated with lower blood flows, high recirculation rate,³³ hemolysis,³⁴ and venous thrombosis.³⁵ Conversely, in patients requiring long-term ECMO support, such as those awaiting lung transplantation, the double-lumen cannula facilitates mobilization and can be a good choice.

ECMO SUPPORT SETTINGS

After the circuit has been primed (typically with crystalloid solutions warmed to 36°C), the ECMO blood flow is initiated at 500 mL/min, and the sweep gas flow is maintained at 1-2 L/min (FiO₂ = 1) until the extracorporeal system is filled with blood. Blood flow and the sweep gas flow are subsequently increased to 2,000 mL/min when using the vv-ECMO configuration. Blood flow and the sweep gas flow are then elevated to a 1:1 ratio, with a target SpO₂ of at least 85%. In extracorporeal support due to hypercapnic respiratory failure, it is important to avoid overly rapid corrections of hypercapnia when initiating ECMO support. Failing to do so might promote alkalemia and a right shift of the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve, as well as cerebral vasoconstriction. In those patients, we usually start the sweep gas flow at half of blood flow. For all patients, subsequent fine tuning of ECMO settings should be based on arterial blood gases: ECMO blood flow should be adjusted based on oxygen levels, and the sweep gas flow should be managed for adequate CO₂ and pH. The interval between blood sample collections varies according to ECMO blood flow; using low blood flows (~2,000 mL/min), intervals as long as 1.5 h are usually necessary to reach PaCO₂ equilibrium. With high blood flows (~3,500 mL/min), a shorter time (30 min) is usually sufficient.³⁶

The oxygenation target varies among ECMO centers. Our group sought to reach a PaO₂ within the 55-60 mmHg range³⁷ with a normal pH (7.35-7.40).²⁷ In patients with high cardiac outputs and very low residual lung function, such targets can be impossible to reach, despite the use of ECMO. In such patients, instead of further damaging the lungs with injurious ventilator settings, it might be preferable to tolerate lower levels of oxygenation (permissive hypoxemia) in the absence of hypercapnic acidemia.³⁸ This strategy of permissive hypoxemia has also been proposed as a means of promoting ultraprotective or protective mechanical ventilation. An experienced ECMO group in Sweden, for example, allows systemic arterial saturation as low as 70% during the vv-ECMO initial run, when the residual function of the native lungs can be close to zero.³ That group identified no significant neurocognitive or physical deficits in a cohort of patients with severe hypoxemia supported with vv-ECMO.³⁹ It is important to note, however, that other authors found an association between severe hypoxemia and long-term neurocognitive dysfunction in ARDS patients not supported by ECMO.⁴⁰

The protective or ultraprotective mechanical ventilation during ECMO support is commonly achieved by using a PEEP of 10-15 cmH₂O, a plateau pressure of 20-25 cmH₂O, an RR of 10-15 breaths/min, an inspiratory time of 0.8-1.0 s, and an FiO₂ of 0.3 (or the minimum to achieve the desired PaO₂).^4,7,41 In patients with more severe lung injury, the use of higher PEEP values (13-15 cmH₂O) is associated with improved outcomes.^42,43 The approach of our group consists in first reducing the plateau pressure to < 25 cmH₂O after ECMO initiation, then setting the PEEP to 10-15 cmH₂O and the RR to 10 breaths/min, thereafter reducing the FiO₂.²⁷ Sometimes, at very low tidal volumes (e.g., < 0.5 mL/kg), chest expansion can be difficult to notice. That finding should not raise concern unless it is associated with an elevation of the HR, hypotension, or any other sign of worsening pulmonary hypertension.^4,27 When tidal volume is reduced to such extreme levels, the inhaled air should be warmed and humidified using an active (heated) humidifier.⁴⁴ A closed tracheal suctioning system can also be used in order to avoid depressurization during airway suctioning. Whenever possible, suctioning should be performed using assisted pressure-controlled mode or pressure-support mode, because the ventilator can compensate for the loss of flow to the suctioning system, thus minimizing alveolar derecruitment.⁴⁵

After clinical stabilization, when the acute phase of lung inflammation subsides, spontaneous ventilation using pressure support can be allowed. The sweep gas flow can be adjusted aiming at optimal patient comfort. Higher sweep gas flows are associated with lower PaCO₂ levels and less respiratory effort.⁴⁶

PATIENT MANAGEMENT

The ECMO-supported patient should be treated as a regular critically ill patient. Analgesia can be administered preemptively in all cannulated patients, at least until an objective evaluation of the pain is possible. Sedation should be titrated to promote or facilitate the protective or ultraprotective ventilation during the first hours of ECMO support, always avoiding life-threatening agitation. Some patients will require neuromuscular blocking agents to guarantee adequate mechanical ventilation in the first hours of ECMO support. Later in the course of the underlying disease, when the acute inflammatory phase has waned, titrating the sweep gas flow to a normal or slightly high pH can allow protective mechanical ventilation even in patients who are awake and interacting with family members and health care providers.⁽³⁾ Although feeding should be initiated as soon as possible, its impact on fluid balance during the first days of ECMO support should be taken into account.⁴⁷ Antimicrobials must not be used prophylactically. Infectious complications during ECMO support, especially ventilator-associated pneumonia, are common and should be treated as usual.⁴⁸

The adequate level of hemoglobin is still a matter of debate. Oftentimes, patients remain hypoxemic despite the use of ECMO. To optimize systemic oxygen delivery, some centers use transfusion of blood components to maintain hemoglobin levels > 14 g/dL⁴ or > 10 g/dL and platelet counts > 100,000/mm³.⁴⁹ In the absence of hypoxemia, we adopt a more conservative approach: at an SaO₂ > 88%, our hemoglobin threshold for transfusion of red blood cells is 7.0 g/dL and our platelet count threshold for platelet transfusion is 50,000/mm³.⁵⁰ We use those thresholds as general guidelines, and the decision is always individualized after thorough evaluation of each patient. Early mobilization and early ambulation of patients on ECMO support improve motor outcomes and rehabilitation.⁵¹

RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY

The renal replacement therapy (RRT) circuit can be connected to a separate vascular access or directly to the ECMO circuit (Figure 2). Keeping dialysis independent from ECMO makes all the procedures related to the RRT occur exactly as they would in patients without ECMO support. However, that decision involves the risk of obtaining a new central venous access in patients who have often been fully anticoagulated.

Alternatively, the RRT circuit can be connected in series with the ECMO circuit (Figure 2). The best configuration of the inlet and outlet lines of the dialysis machine is a matter of controversy. We do not recommend connecting the dialysis system downstream of the oxygenator, because of the risk of air embolism. The choice between making the connection upstream of the ECMO pump (negative-pressure side) and making it downstream of the ECMO pump (positive-pressure side) will depend on the dialysis machine. In some RRT machines, negative pressure will trigger low-pressure alarms if the outlet lines are connected upstream of the ECMO pump. Connection on the positive-pressure side (i.e., downstream of the pump and upstream of the oxygenator), where pressures can reach up to 350 mmHg, is a safe and effective option.⁵²

Finally, it is possible to take advantage of the pressure differences within the ECMO circuit to drive blood across the hemofilter without a dialysis machine. To that end, the inlet line of the hemofilter drains blood from the positive-pressure side and returns blood to the negative-pressure side. With that configuration, it is possible to deliver slow continuous ultrafiltration therapy, with an infusion pump controlling the amount of fluid removal or the amount of dialysate in countercurrent with blood (which would require two pumps). This option can be hazardous, because the amount of flow through the hemofilter will vary depending on the ECMO-circuit pressures, as well as because infusion pumps can underestimate fluid loss.⁵²

The risks and benefits of each of the options should be considered. We believe that, at centers where the staff have sufficient experience, connecting the dialysis machine directly to the ECMO circuit might be advantageous because it avoids the risk of central venous access and has been associated with a lower risk of infection.⁵²

PHARMACOKINETICS

Modern ECMO circuits produce significant pharmacokinetic changes. First, hemodilution due to the priming volume of approximately 500-600 mL can dilute drugs soon after the initiation of ECMO support. Second and most importantly, the ECMO circuit is coated with biopassive and bioactive products to enhance biocompatibility and to reduce thrombogenesis, respectively.⁵³ The circuit coating is able to adsorb lipophilic⁵⁴ and protein-bound drugs. There is information on the pharmacokinetics of some drugs (Table 1).^55,56 Whenever possible (e.g., in the case of analgesics and vasopressors), close clinical surveillance of the pharmacokinetic effects of ECMO support is indicated.

Table 1
Pharmacokinetics of some medications when using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.

Bioavailability
Reduced	Maintained
Propofol	Morphine
Midazolam	Meropenem
Fentanyl	Fluconazole
Lorazepam	Micafungin
Vancomycin
Ceftriaxone
Imipenem

Anticoagulation

The coating of the ECMO circuit contains heparin, which provides partial protection against clotting. Further anticoagulation is necessary to avoid clot formation in the ECMO system and to prevent vascular thrombosis in the insertion sites of the cannulas, thus avoiding dysfunction of the oxygenator, hemolysis, post-phlebitis syndrome, arterial ischemia, and pulmonary embolism. Between 10% and 33% of patients on ECMO support experience thrombotic or bleeding events.⁵⁷ Monitoring of anticoagulation varies according to the experience of each center.⁵⁷ Table 2 shows the anticoagulation techniques used at 187 ECMO centers worldwide.⁵⁷ Measuring the activity of anti-factor Xa is considered the gold standard, being the only monitoring tool that correlates well with serum levels of heparin. However, it is unavailable at many centers and is associated with high costs.⁵⁷

Table 2
Anticoagulation techniques used in 187 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers worldwide.

Technique	Routine use	Occasionally	Never
aPTT	94%	-	6%
ACT	97%	-	3%
Anti-factor Xa	18%	25%	35%
Fibrinogen	97%	3%	-
Thromboelastography	18%	25%	57%
Non-heparin anticoagulants	-	8%	90%

• aPTT: activated partial thromboplastin time; and ACT: activated coagulation time.

Continuous infusions of unfractionated heparin with usual control of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) are associated with a long system lifespan.⁵⁸ Our group uses unfractionated heparin and aPTT obtained at intervals from 6 h to 24 h, depending on the moment of ECMO support, always maintaining the aPTT ratio between 2.0 and 3.0. When the heparin infusion needs to be discontinued, high ECMO blood flows, usually above 3,500 mL/min, help avoid clot formation. During vv-ECMO support, some periods without anticoagulation can be allowed.

ECMO MONITORING

The ECMO system must be checked at least once a day. The presence of clots in the circuit, oxygenator, or pump head indicates insufficient anticoagulation. The auscultation of a friction noise in the pump head indicates fibrin deposition on the impeller blades. We daily perform brief (less than a second) elevations of the sweep gas flow to the maximum in order to remove water condensation from the oxygenator ("the oxygenator cough maneuver"), improving the exchange surface. In patients at risk of cerebral hypoperfusion, such as those with increased intracranial hypertension, we avoid the routine use of the cough maneuver, because it can lead to transient hypocapnia and consequent cerebral vasoconstriction. In those patients, we perform the maneuver in selected circumstances (when there is worsening of oxygenation due to ineffective gas exchange of the membrane). The battery can be checked by turning off the external power source. We then provide adequate gel lubrication of the ultrasonic blood flow meter. It is always important to have emergency equipment on the pump console cart: a hand crank, an empty pack to use in cases of massive air embolism, three clamps (at least), and gel for the flow meter. Avoid the use of alcohol on the polycarbonate material to prevent cracks.

Some ECMO groups routinely monitor blood gases and pressures upstream and downstream of the oxygenator. Increased transmembrane pressure is an early warning sign of oxygenator failure due to thrombus formation. Conversely, a concomitant increase in upstream and downstream oxygenator pressures without a change in pump rotations may indicate kinking of the arterial cannula. Our group restricts that monitoring to situations in which hypoxemia or hypercapnia occurs. We also monitor the blood flow/pump rotation ratio, which depends on the preload and afterload of the pump, to identify circuit or oxygenator obstructions to blood flow.⁵⁹

The fixation and insertion of the cannulas must also be checked daily. The determination of SpO₂ can be used in order to monitor arterial oxygenation. In patients on va-ECMO, it is important to determine the SpO₂ on the right arm, which more closely represents the oxygen availability to the brain and myocardium. Once-daily determination of arterial blood gases is usually enough for patients on vv-ECMO. In patients on va-ECMO, cardiac activity can occasionally be extremely depressed, and-in the absence of pulsatility-pulse oximetry will not work. In those patients, blood samples for arterial blood gas analysis should be obtained more frequently, preferably from the right arm.

Twice a week, we screen for hemolysis by measuring lactate dehydrogenase, bilirubins, haptoglobin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and, if possible, free hemoglobin. Measuring D-dimer levels can be also useful for predicting the progression of clotting within the membrane.

Transesophageal echocardiography can be an important tool to monitor patients on vv- or va-ECMO. In vv-ECMO, transesophageal echocardiography can monitor for incident right heart failure, whereas in va-ECMO it can be used in order to diagnose thrombus formation in the aortic root and in the left ventricle, as well as to monitor the function of native cardiac output.

REFRACTORY HYPOXEMIA AND HYPERCAPNIA DURING ECMO SUPPORT

Hypercapnia during ECMO support is very rare, considering that relatively low ECMO blood flows are usually enough to wash out CO₂. Sometimes, at low ECMO blood flows, CO₂ removal has a "ceiling effect", and further increases in the sweep gas flow have little impact on PaCO₂. Under those circumstances, the ECMO blood flow and the sweep gas flow should both be increased in order to treat hypercapnia.

Conversely, hypoxemia during ECMO support is a more common and difficult-to-manage situation, and knowledge of the interaction between the patient and ECMO might help at the bedside. We favor a stepwise approach for such situations, as described below:

1. Check ECMO blood flow: initial settings include keeping ECMO blood flow at a minimum of 60% of the cardiac output in order to reduce the fraction of non-oxygenated venous blood flow that will mix with oxygenated blood.

2. Check for recirculation: the oxygenated blood from the arterial cannula might be once again drained by the ECMO system, causing recirculation, which can reduce ECMO efficiency. The relative position of the cannulas can be assessed with chest X-ray and ultrasound at the bedside. When the tips of arterial and venous cannulas are in close proximity (Figure 3), recirculation is likely to occur. It is recommended that the tip of the femoral venous cannula be placed at the level of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava. If oxygen saturation in the drainage cannula is > 70% or if its difference in relation to the SaO₂ is < 20%, recirculation can be a contributing factor to persistent hypoxemia. Consider repositioning the drainage cannula or changing to a hybrid configuration.

Figure 3
An X-ray of the chest (taken with a portable X-ray machine at the bedside) of a patient with hypoxemic respiratory failure submitted to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Note the positioning of the cannulas (dashed lines) with their tips (arrows) in close proximity, which may favor the occurrence of recirculation.

1. Check for excessive oxygen consumption: aggressively treat fever and agitation. Consider neuromuscular blockers if the patient exhibits increased respiratory effort.

2. Check for oxygenator failure: thrombus formation due to inappropriate anticoagulation or to prolonged ECMO support might impair gas exchange. Consider replacing the oxygenator if there are signs of hemolysis or inappropriate fibrinolysis.

3. Optimize ventilator settings if possible: increase the FiO₂ if it is < 60%, and increase the PEEP if appropriate. Also consider using alveolar recruitment maneuvers and the prone position, as well as neuromuscular blockers or inhaled nitric oxide.

4. Consider reducing the cardiac output of the patient, if appropriate, with beta-blockers. Although this option is associated with improvement in oxygenation, it has not been tested formally in a randomized clinical trial and therefore remains experimental.

The decision of whether and how far hypoxemia or hypercapnia can be tolerated should be individualized, considering the clinical condition of the patient.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Communication with the hospital blood bank is important to make sure there is enough blood in stock in case of emergency.

If for any reason the ECMO device stops, prompt restoration of mechanical ventilation is mandatory with predefined "emergency settings." Those settings must be written down, visible, and placed near the ventilator (for instance, FiO₂ = 1, PEEP = 10 cmH₂O, peak pressure = 30 cmH₂O, and RR = 35 breaths/min).

In cases of interruption of power supply or any other pump console failure, the hand crank must be used in order to pump the blood. The previously mentioned "sucking-up" phenomenon is common. It can cause sudden falls in the measured ECMO blood flow with preserved pump rotations, which is commonly associated with the chattering of the ECMO circuit. Additionally, the pump head, normally dark red because it is filled with venous blood, can become light red or even white (the color of the impeller blades) when the flow from the drainage cannula is insufficient (a phenomenon referred to as cavitation). Some maneuvers can be of help: 1) increasing the bed angle; 2) placing the patient in the lateral decubitus position; 3) decreasing the ECMO blood flow and then increasing it slowly; 4) increasing the PEEP; 5) transfusing packed red blood cells if appropriate; 6) attempting fluid challenges; and 7) starting or increasing epinephrine infusion when appropriate.²¹

Air embolism can occur when the venous pre-pump system, where the pressure is negative, is being handled. If air embolism occurs, immediately interrupt the ECMO blood flow (the outlet of the pump head must be turned down in order to avoid pushing the air forward) and change to emergency mechanical ventilation settings (see above). Then proceed to remove the air with syringes or emergency bags. If a circuit rupture is identified, the ECMO flow must be interrupted and the damaged segment of the circuit must be replaced. Hemolysis is relatively common and can be avoided by reducing the ECMO blood flow, correcting cannula malpositioning, and enhancing anticoagulation, especially if there are clots in the circuit. If the RRT circuit is connected to the ECMO circuit, the use of a separate dialysis catheter should be considered.⁶⁰⁾ During vv-ECMO support, cardiac arrest should be treated as usual, except that ventilation is unnecessary.

ECMO DISCONTINUATION

Every day, we perform an autonomy test by reducing the sweep gas flow to zero. To guarantee the absence of sweep gas flow, we usually clamp the air line that is connected to the oxygenator. Immediately before the autonomy test, acceptable mechanical ventilation parameters must be set. In patients on controlled mechanical ventilation, we favor the use of a PEEP of 10-15 cmH₂O, a tidal volume of 6 mL/kg of ideal body weight, a RR of 35 breaths/min, and an FiO₂ of 0.6.⁴ If the patient is on pressure support ventilation, the pressure support can be adjusted to between 6 cmH₂O and 20 cmH₂O depending on the clinical and physiological condition of the patient. When the sweep gas flow is turned off, patient comfort and SpO₂ must be observed closely. If the patient is stable for 1-6 h, arterial blood gas analysis is performed. If the PaO₂ is > 55 mmHg and the pH is within the normal range (7.35-7.45), we consider (depending on the clinical status) the withdrawal of ECMO support.²³ Patients with borderline oxygenation and right ventricular dysfunction might not tolerate sudden changes in oxygenation, because hypoxia can worsen or the patient can develop cor pulmonale . In those patients, we gradually change the FiO₂ of the sweep gas flow from 1.0 to 0.21, after which we slowly reduce it to zero.

We remove the venous cannulas at the bedside and apply pressure to the insertion sites for at least 30 min. We later place suture reinforcements around the orifices and leave the sutures in place for at least 24 h. Arterial cannulas are withdrawn in the operating room.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

ECMO for respiratory support is a suitable rescue therapy for patients with severe ARDS or other causes of respiratory failure, assuming that the patients are not beyond hope. Costs do not seem prohibitive. A trained multidisciplinary ICU team is fully capable of initiating and conducting ECMO support. Although emergencies are infrequent among patients on vv-ECMO support, a training program is necessary to keeping the team competent and confident.

Our group has created a YouTube channel, designated "Grupo de ECMO HCFMUSP ", with the purpose of training our educational team. The channel is open access.

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• Financial support: None

• 2
  Study carried out at the Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André (SP), at Hospital Sírio-Libanês, and at the Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo (SP) Brasil

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Jan-Feb 2017

History

• Received
  22 Sept 2016
• Accepted
  05 Jan 2017