End Organ Recovery and Survival with the QuadroxD Oxygenator in Adults on Extracorporeal Membran Oxygenation

Abstract

Introduction: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is used in selected patient with cardiogenic and/or re- spiratory shock. We report our experience with standardized management protocols and the application of the Qua- droxD oxygenator with a centrifugal pump to maximize end-organ recovery and improve survival. Methods: This is an Internal Review Board (IRB) approved, single institution retrospective study of end-organ recovery and survival in pa- tients who required ECMO for cardiogenic and/or respiratory shock between July 2010 and June 2011. Results: Sixteen patients (median age: 46 years) were initiated on either Veno-Arterial (VA) or Veno-Venous (VV) ECMO. Cardiogenic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and a combined respiratory and cardiogenic compromise were the primary indications for ECMO in 8 (50%), 5 (31%) and 3 (19%) patients respectively. The median time on ECMO was 8 days (range: 4 - 26 days). Twelve patients (75%) were successfully weaned off ECMO, of which four (25%) were bridged to a ventricular assist device (VAD) and eight (50%) were weaned to recovery. All eight patients (100%) that were weaned to recovery and two patients (50%) that were bridged to a VAD were successfully discharged from the hospital, resulting in a discharge rate of 63%. There was an improvement in pre- vs. post-ECMO AST (449 IU/L vs. 63 IU/L, p Conclusion: ECMO using the QuadroxD oxygenator and a centrifugal pump, coupled with standardized management protocols is beneficial in carefully selected patients. Improvement or main- tenance of end-organ function is associated with successful bridge to device therapy and/or increased survival.