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The utility of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with circulatory collapse by electrical storm

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  • Artificial Lung / ECMO
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Abstract

In patients experiencing electrical storm, intensive care using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an efficient treatment to overcome a hemodynamically unstable condition. The aim of this study was to examine the utility of ECMO in patients with circulatory collapse by electrical storm. We retrospectively examined 17 consecutive patients receiving veno-arterial ECMO for electrical storm between January 2016 and December 2018 in our institution. We compared survivors (n = 11) and non-survivors (n = 6). Thirteen were weaned from ECMO, of whom 11 patients (64.7%) survived and were discharged from hospital, while 6 patients died (35.3%). In comparisons between survivors and non-survivors, blood pH before starting ECMO was significantly higher in survivors (pH 7.32) than in non-survivors (pH 6.89, p = 0.027). Blood lactate level was significantly lower in survivors (6.2 mmol/L) than in non-survivors (12.2 mmol/L, p = 0.044). Complications of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy were found in 4 non-survivors (66.7%), compared to survivors (0%, p = 0.006). Durations of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay were significantly longer in survivors (271 h, 62 days) than in non-survivors (50 h, 3 days, respectively). Outcomes of treatment using ECMO in patients with circulatory collapse due to electrical storm proved satisfactory. Increases in blood lactate level and decreases in blood pH before starting ECMO were thought to be related to mortality due to suspected irreversible organ damage by hypoxia before ECMO.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Engineering, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital, 53 Hon-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan

    Keigo Yamamoto, Takeshi Goto, Tomoyuki Ohira, Ryutaro Kato, Yukiya Konno, Kaori Aoki & Junko Ogasawara

  2. Department of Cardiology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan

    Masaomi Kimura

  3. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan

    Masahito Minakawa & Ikuo Fukuda

Authors
  1. Keigo Yamamoto
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  2. Takeshi Goto
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  3. Tomoyuki Ohira
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  4. Ryutaro Kato
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  5. Yukiya Konno
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  6. Kaori Aoki
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  7. Junko Ogasawara
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  8. Masaomi Kimura
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  9. Masahito Minakawa
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  10. Ikuo Fukuda
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Contributions

All authors have made substantial contributions to all of the following: (1) the conception and design of the study (KY, TG), or acquisition of data (TO, RK, YK), or analysis and interpretation of data (KA, JO); (2) drafting of the article or critical revision for important intellectual content (MK, MM, IF); and (3) final approval of the version to be submitted (TG, MM).

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Correspondence to Takeshi Goto.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Yamamoto, K., Goto, T., Ohira, T. et al. The utility of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with circulatory collapse by electrical storm. J Artif Organs 24, 407–411 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10047-020-01233-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10047-020-01233-5

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