Clinical utility of venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in patients with drug-induced cardiogenic shock: a retrospective study of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organizations’ ECMO case registry

Abstract

Background: Venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is increasingly utilized to treat severe or refractory drug-induced cardiovascular shock. There is limited evidence regarding VA-ECMO’s clinical utility in poisoning. Therefore, we investigated the clinical benefit of VA-ECMO use in drug-induced cardiovascular shock using the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO)’s ECMO case registry.

Methods: The ELSO registry was systematically searched retrospectively, using ICD-9/10 codes for poisoning-related cases from January 1, 2003 to July 30, 2018. All adult cases (age ≥ 18 years) that received VA-ECMO for cardiac support were included. Cardiogenic shock was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) <90 mmHg, mean arterial pressure (MAP) <65 mmHg, or requiring infusion of ≥2 vasopressor agents. Study outcomes included survival to discharge (i.e., from the ECMO center), changes in metabolic (acid/base), hemodynamic and ventilatory status, and complications related to ECMO support. Demographic and clinical characteristics of pre-ECMO and 24-h after VA-ECMO cannulation were compared between survivors vs. non-survivors.

Results: A total of 113 cases were identified from the ELSO registry; 9 cases were excluded because cardiogenic shock was not related to poisoning, leaving 104 cases for analysis. The median age was 34 years and 53.5% (n = 54) were male. Cardiovascular agents were involved in 47.1% (n = 49) of the cases followed by opioids (n = 9, 6.7%); 34 cases experienced pre-ECMO cardiac arrest. About 92.4% of the cases (n = 85) received vasopressor infusion for hemodynamic support, most frequently norepinephrine (83.7%). Median duration of VA-ECMO was 68 h (interquartile range [IQR]: 48, 113 h); 52.9% (n = 55) of the cases survived to discharge. VA-ECMO significantly improved hemodynamics (MAP, SBP, and DBP), acidemia/acidosis (pH, HCO₃ level) and ventilatory parameters (pO₂, SpO₂, and SvO₂). Non-survivors showed persistent acidemia/acidosis at 24-h after VA-ECMO cannulation compared to survivors. Renal replacement therapy (50.9%) and arrhythmia (26.3%) were the most frequently reported complications.

Conclusions: VA-ECMO improved hemodynamic and metabolic parameters in patients with drug-induced cardiogenic shock (DCS).

Keywords:

• Drug-induced cardiogenic shock
• extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
• Extracorporeal Life Support Organization
• cardiac toxicity

Disclaimer

Finding of this study was presented at the 39th Congress of European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists. Naples, Italy. May 2019.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.