Matthew L. Paden

Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry Report 2012.

In this article, summary data from the annual international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry Reports through July 2012 are presented. Nearly 51,000 patients have received extracorporeal life support (ECLS). Of the patients, 50% (>25,000) were neonatal respiratory failure, with a 75% overall survival to discharge or transfer. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia remains a major use of ECLS in this population with 51% survival. Extracorporeal life support use for pediatric respiratory failure has nearly doubled since 2000, with approximately 350 patients treated per year in the past 3 years examined (56% survival). Previously stable at about 100 cases a year for a decade, adult respiratory failure ECLS cases increased dramatically in 2009 with the H1N1 influenza pandemic and publication of the Conventional ventilation or ECMO for Severe Adult Respiratory failure (CESAR) trial results and have remained at approximately 400 cases a year through 2011 (55% survival). Use of ECLS for cardiac support represents a large area of consistent growth. Approximately 13,000 patients have been treated with survival to discharge rates of 40%, 49%, and 39% for neonates, pediatric, and adults, respectively.

Association of hospital-level volume of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cases and mortality: Analysis of the extracorporeal life support organization registry

RATIONALE Recent pediatric studies suggest a survival benefit exists for higher-volume extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) centers. OBJECTIVES To determine if higher annual ECMO patient volume is associated with lower case-mix-adjusted hospital mortality rate. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed an international registry of ECMO support from 1989 to 2013. Patients were separated into three age groups: neonatal (0-28 d), pediatric (29 d to <18 yr), and adult (≥18 yr). The measure of hospital ECMO volume was age group-specific and adjusted for patient-level case-mix and hospital-level variance using multivariable hierarchical logistic regression modeling. The primary outcome was death before hospital discharge. A subgroup analysis was conducted for 2008-2013. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS From 1989 to 2013, a total of 290 centers provided ECMO support to 56,222 patients (30,909 neonates, 14,725 children, and 10,588 adults). Annual ECMO mortality rates varied widely across ECMO centers: the interquartile range was 18-50% for neonates, 25-66% for pediatrics, and 33-92% for adults. For 1989-2013, higher age group-specific ECMO volume was associated with lower odds of ECMO mortality for neonates and adults but not for pediatric cases. In 2008-2013, the volume-outcome association remained statistically significant only among adults. Patients receiving ECMO at hospitals with more than 30 adult annual ECMO cases had significantly lower odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.80) compared with adults receiving ECMO at hospitals with less than six annual cases. CONCLUSIONS In this international, case-mix-adjusted analysis, higher annual hospital ECMO volume was associated with lower mortality in 1989-2013 for neonates and adults; the association among adults persisted in 2008-2013.

Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry International Report 2016.

Data on extracorporeal life support (ECLS) use and survival submitted to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization’s data registry from the inception of the registry in 1989 through July 1, 2016, are summarized in this report. The registry contained information on 78,397 ECLS patients with 58% survival to hospital discharge. Extracorporeal life support use and centers providing ECLS have increased worldwide. Extracorporeal life support use in the support of adults with respiratory and cardiac failure represented the largest growth in the recent time period. Extracorporeal life support indications are expanding, and it is increasingly being used to support cardiopulmonary resuscitation in children and adults. Adverse events during the course of ECLS are common and underscore the need for skilled ECLS management and appropriately trained ECLS personnel and teams.

Update and outcomes in extracorporeal life support

The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry has collected outcome data of almost 56,000 patients receiving extracorporeal life support (ECLS) over the last 24 years. The use of neonatal respiratory ECLS declined from a peak of 1516 cases in 1992 to 750-865 cases from 2008 to 2012. The 26,583 cases of neonatal respiratory ECLS (75% survival) represent the largest patient population in the registry. Indicating the rapid growth in other patient populations, 2013 marks the first year where the number of neonatal respiratory ECLS cases is less than 50% of the registry. Stagnant at ~200 cases/year from 1993 to 2004, growth is occurring in the use of pediatric respiratory ECLS with 331-448 cases/year from 2008 to 2012 (58% survival). Similarly, adult respiratory ECLS use increases have been seen from ~100 cases/year from 1996 to 2007 to 480-846 cases/year from 2009 to 2012 (58% survival). Just over 15,000 cardiac ECLS patients have survival rates of 40%, 49%, and 40% for neonates, pediatric, and adults, respectively.

Renal Replacement Therapy in Critically Ill Patients Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a lifesaving procedure used in neonates, children, and adults with severe, reversible, cardiopulmonary failure. On the basis of single-center studies, the incidence of AKI occurs in 70%-85% of ECMO patients. Those with AKI and those who require renal replacement therapy (RRT) are at high risk for mortality, independent of potentially confounding variables. Fluid overload is common in ECMO patients, and is one of the main indications for RRT. RRT to maintain fluid balance and metabolic control is common in some but not all centers. RRT on ECMO can be performed via an in-line hemofilter or by incorporating a standard continuous renal replacement machine into the ECMO circuit. Both of these methods require specific technical considerations to provide safe and effective RRT. This review summarizes available epidemiologic data and how they apply to our understanding of AKI pathophysiology during ECMO, identifies indications for RRT while on ECMO, reviews technical elements for RRT application in the setting of ECMO, and finally identifies specific research-focused questions that need to be addressed to improve outcomes in this at-risk population.

Recovery of renal function and survival after continuous renal replacement therapy during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Objective: To assess the outcome of pediatric patients supported by concomitant extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Design, Setting, and Patients: Acute kidney injury is associated with mortality in ECMO patients. CRRT in patients on ECMO provides an efficient and potentially beneficial method of acute kidney injury management. Concern that concomitant CRRT use increases the risk of developing anuria and chronic renal failure limits its use in some centers. We hypothesized that development of chronic renal failure is rare with concurrent ECMO and CRRT. We evaluated the outcomes of 154 ECMO/CRRT patients cared for over 10 yrs at a referral pediatric medical center. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Among 68 (44%) ECMO/CRRT survivors, 45 were assigned a pediatric risk, injury, failure, loss and end-stage (referred to as “pRIFLE”) score at CRRT initiation. Seventeen (38%) patients met the criteria for Risk, 15 (33%) for Injury, and 10 (22%) for Failure. Two Failure patients later met End stage criteria. Of all survivors, 18 (26%) required ongoing renal replacement therapy (15 required continuous veno-venous hemofiltration, two required peritoneal dialysis, and one patient required intermittent hemodialysis) post ECMO discontinuation. Renal recovery occurred in 65 (96%) of 68 patients before discharge. One neonatal patient had sepsis-induced renal injury on transfer, but had normal creatinine 1 month later. Two pediatric patients with vasculitis and primary renal disease at presentation (both meeting Failure criteria) developed end-stage renal disease. One received peritoneal dialysis and subsequent renal transplant. The other has diminished function without need for renal replacement therapy. Conclusion: In the absence of primary renal disease, chronic renal failure did not occur after concurrent use of CRRT with ECMO. Concern for precipitating chronic renal failure by using CRRT during ECMO is not substantiated by this large single-center experience. Consistent with previous reports, mortality is higher in patients receiving concomitant CRRT and ECMO compared with those receiving ECMO alone. Mortality is similar to patients requiring CRRT who are not on ECMO. Additional studies are warranted to determine the optimal role of CRRT use in ECMO patients.

Acute Kidney Injury in Children: An Update on Diagnosis and Treatment

The concept and definition of acute kidney injury (AKI) in adults and children has undergone significant change in recent years. Biomarker assessment is aiding in description, defining and understanding timing of AKI. AKI demonstrates unique characteristics in association with sepsis and septic shock, organ dysfunction, and fluid overload. Treatment remains problematic, but growing experience with pediatric continuous renal replacement therapies has improved the delivery of care in children. Increasingly, continuous renal replacement therapy is provided in combination with other extracorporeal technologies, and approaches are advancing to improve combined therapy use.

Improved survival in venovenous vs venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for pediatric noncardiac sepsis patients: a study of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE There are few studies comparing venoarterial (VA) and venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in pediatric noncardiac sepsis patients. METHODS Following approval, we reviewed the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry data from 1990 to 2008 for patients 0 to 18 years with a diagnosis of sepsis and without diagnosis of congenital heart disease. Survival to discharge was compared between VA and VV ECMO using χ(2) analysis and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Four thousand three hundred thirty-two ECMO runs were reviewed, 3256 VA (75%) and 1076 VV (25%). A majority of VA modality was noted in each decade studied. Overall survival was 68% and was higher in VV (79%) than in VA ECMO (64%, P < .001). Survival decreased with increasing age (73% in newborns ≤ 1 month, 40% in children 1 month to 12 years, and 32% in adolescents >12 years, P < .001). VA ECMO had increased mortality risk after adjustment for age, use of vasoactive agents, and advanced respiratory support (odds ratio, 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.74-2.44; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate improved survival in VV vs. VA ECMO in select pediatric septic patients without congenital heart disease. When technically feasible, physicians should consider VV ECMO as first therapeutic choice in this patient population.

Pediatric Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry International Report 2016

The purpose of this report is to describe the international growth, outcomes, complications, and technology used in pediatric extracorporeal life support (ECLS) from 2009 to 2015 as reported by participating centers in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). To date, there are 59,969 children who have received ECLS in the ELSO Registry; among those, 21,907 received ECLS since 2009 with an overall survival to hospital discharge rate of 61%. In 2009, 2,409 ECLS cases were performed at 157 centers. By 2015, that number grew to 2,992 cases in 227 centers, reflecting a 24% increase in patients and 55% growth in centers. ECLS delivered to neonates (0–28 days) for respiratory support was the largest subcategory of ECLS among children <18-years old. Overall, 48% of ECLS was delivered for respiratory support and 52% was for cardiac support or extracorporeal life support to support cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). During the study period, over half of children were supported on ECLS with centrifugal pumps (51%) and polymethylpentene oxygenators (52%). Adverse events including neurologic events were common during ECLS, a fact that underscores the opportunity and need to promote quality improvement work.

The Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury and Its Effect on Neonatal and Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Outcomes: A Multicenter Report From the Kidney Intervention During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Study Group

Objective: In a population of neonatal and pediatric patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; to describe the prevalence and timing of acute kidney injury utilizing a consensus acute kidney injury definition and investigate the association of acute kidney injury with outcomes (length of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and mortality). Design: Multicenter retrospective observational cohort study. Setting: Six pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers. Patients: Pediatric patients (age, < 18 yr) on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at six centers during a period of January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2011. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Complete data were analyzed for 832 patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Sixty percent of patients had acute kidney injury utilizing the serum creatinine Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria (AKISCr) and 74% had acute kidney injury using the full Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria including renal support therapy (AKISCr + RST). Of those who developed acute kidney injury, it was present at extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initiation in a majority of cases (52% AKISCr and 65% AKISCr + RST) and present by 48 hours of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in 86% (AKISCr) and 93% (AKISCr + RST). When adjusted for patient age, center of support, mode of support, patient complications and preextracorporeal membrane oxygenation pH, the presence of acute kidney injury by either criteria was associated with a significantly longer duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (AKISCr, 152 vs 110 hr; AKISCr + RST, 153 vs 99 hr) and increased adjusted odds of mortality at hospital discharge (AKISCr: odds ratio, 1.77; 1.22–2.55 and AKISCr + RST: odds ratio, 2.50; 1.61–3.90). With the addition of renal support therapy to the model, acute kidney injury was associated with a longer duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (AKISCr, 149 vs 121 hr) and increased risk of mortality at hospital discharge (AKISCr: odds ratio, 1.52; 1.04–2.21). Conclusion: Acute kidney injury is present in 60–74% of neonatal-pediatric patients supported on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and is present by 48 hours of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in 86–93% of cases. Acute kidney injury has a significant association with increased duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support and increased adjusted odds of mortality at hospital discharge.Objective In a population of neonatal and pediatric patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); to describe the incidence and timing of acute kidney injury (AKI) utilizing a consensus AKI definition and investigate the association of AKI with outcomes (length of ECMO and mortality).