Seco M, Forrest P, Jackson SA, Martinez G, Andvik S, Bannon PG, Ng M, Fraser JF, Wilson MK, Vallely MP
Heart Lung Circ 2014 Oct;23(10):957-62
PMID: 24954708
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) can cause profound haemodynamic perturbation in the peri-operative period. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be used to provide cardiorespiratory support during this time, either prophylactically or emergently.
METHOD: 100 TAVI procedures were performed between 2009 and 2013 in our institution. ECMO was used in 11 patients, including eight prophylactic and three rescue cases. Rescue ECMO was required for ventricular fibrillation after valvuloplasty, and aortic annulus rupture. The criteria for prophylactic ECMO included heart failure requiring stabilisation pre-TAVI, haemodynamic instability with balloon aortic valvuloplasty performed to improve heart function pre-TAVI, moderate or severe left and/or right ventricular failure, or borderline haemodynamics at procedure. Differences in preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes between ECMO and non-ECMO TAVI patients were compared, and significant results were further assessed controlling for EuroSCORE.
RESULTS: Compared to TAVI patients who did not require ECMO, ECMO patients had significantly higher mean EuroSCORE (51 vs. 30%, p.05). ECMO patients were more likely to develop acute renal failure than non-ECMO patients (36 vs. 8%, p<.05), which was most likely due to haemodynamic collapse and end-organ dysfunction in patients that required ECMO rescue.
CONCLUSIONS: Instituting prophylactic ECMO in selected very high-risk patients may help avoid consequences of intra-operative complications and the need for emergent rescue ECMO.
