We present the case of a 45-year-old patient who was brought to our emergency department with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The patient arrived 45 minutes after collapse due to ventricular... Show moreWe present the case of a 45-year-old patient who was brought to our emergency department with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The patient arrived 45 minutes after collapse due to ventricular fibrillation. The initial rhythm at arrival to the emergency department was asystole. His laboratory results showed profound lactic acidosis (lactate of 21 mmol/l and pH of 6.6). Time to arrival, rhythm at presentation and the observed lactic acidosis were all interpreted as prognostic signs of a poor outcome but, despite that, it was decided to treat the patient with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). Subsequently percutaneous coronary intervention was performed. In contrast to the poor prognosis, the patient was discharged on day 6 with no discernible neurological deficit. This case illustrates that despite biochemical data suggesting profound tissue ischaemia/hypoxia, the outcome of ECPR may be excellent. Such data cannot be reliably used as a single indicator to decide whether or not ECPR should be initiated. Show less
Background: Describing outcomes for children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) undergoing hybrid palliation (pulmonary artery band and stent placement in the patent ductus arteriosus)... Show moreBackground: Describing outcomes for children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) undergoing hybrid palliation (pulmonary artery band and stent placement in the patent ductus arteriosus) requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for cardiorespiratory failure. Methods: We reviewed the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization database for all patients with a diagnosis of an HLHS undergoing hybrid stage 1 palliation supported with ECMO and those patients with hybrid palliation supported with ECMO after comprehensive stage 2 palliation. Patients were identified using a combination of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and registry diagnosis and procedure codes. We report survival to hospital discharge and ECMO complications. Results: We identified 44 patients with HLHS requiring ECMO following stage 1 hybrid approach. Median age at cannulation was 13.5 days. Only 16% survived to hospital discharge. In all, 20 (50%) patients had a cardiac arrest prior to going onto ECMO and for 3 (19%) patients, ECMO was initiated during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Conclusions: Overall survival for ECMO support in patients with HLHS palliated via the hybrid approach is very poor (16%) and is worse than 31% survival reported for ECMO after conventional stage 1 palliation. The reasons for these poor outcomes require further investigation. Background: Describing outcomes for children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) undergoing hybrid palliation (pulmonary artery band and stent placement in the patent ductus arteriosus) requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for cardiorespiratory failure. Methods: We reviewed the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization database for all patients with a diagnosis of an HLHS undergoing hybrid stage 1 palliation supported with ECMO and those patients with hybrid palliation supported with ECMO after comprehensive stage 2 palliation. Patients were identified using a combination of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and registry diagnosis and procedure codes. We report survival to hospital discharge and ECMO complications. Results: We identified 44 patients with HLHS requiring ECMO following stage 1 hybrid approach. Median age at cannulation was 13.5 days. Only 16% survived to hospital discharge. In all, 20 (50%) patients had a cardiac arrest prior to going onto ECMO and for 3 (19%) patients, ECMO was initiated during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Conclusions: Overall survival for ECMO support in patients with HLHS palliated via the hybrid approach is very poor (16%) and is worse than 31% survival reported for ECMO after conventional stage 1 palliation. The reasons for these poor outcomes require further investigation. Show less
