Yuval Raz

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for critically ill adults in the emergency department: History, current applications, and future directions

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a mode of extracorporeal life support that augments oxygenation, ventilation and/or cardiac output via cannulae connected to a circuit that pumps blood through an oxygenator and back into the patient. ECMO has been used for decades to support cardiopulmonary disease refractory to conventional therapy. While not robust, there are promising data for the use of ECMO in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, and cardiogenic shock and the potential indications for ECMO continue to increase. This review discusses the existing literature on the potential use of ECMO in critically ill patients within the emergency department.

Outcome of patients on combined extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and continuous renal replacement therapy: a retrospective study

Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a lifesaving therapy used in the management of cardiopulmonary failure. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is often added to the treatment for the correction of fluid and electrolyte imbalance in patients with acute kidney injury. Most of the literature on the use of combined ECMO and CRRT has been on pediatric patients. There are limited outcome data on the use of these combined modalities in adult patients. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of all the patients above the age of 18 years who underwent combined ECMO and CRRT at a tertiary care medical center during the period January 2007 to January 2012. The primary outcomes measured were mortality at one year and renal recovery or dialysis dependence at one month. Results A total of 40 patients who were treated concurrently with ECMO and CRRT were identified. The mean age was 47.01 ± 18.29 years. The most common indications for initiation of CRRT were combined fluid overload and electrolyte imbalance. Mortality at one month was (32/40) 80%. Among the 8 survivors (20%), 3 patients required continuation of hemodialysis and 5 patients were independent of dialysis at 30 days. Conclusions Mortality of patients treated with combined ECMO and CRRT is high. Initiation of CRRT in these patients is simply an indicator of severity of illness and fatality. Younger age, higher arterial pH, left ventricular dysfunction and use of VA ECMO are associated with improved survival in these patients.

Coccidioidomycosis among persons undergoing lung transplantation in the coccidioidal endemic region

Coccidioidomycosis, an endemic fungal infection, is more likely to be symptomatic and severe among those receiving allogeneic transplants. While several case series have been published for various transplanted organs, none has described the incidence and outcomes in those receiving lung transplants within the coccidioidal endemic region.