Veno-veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory failure with severe haemodynamic impairment: technique and early outcomes

OBJECTIVES: Patients with respiratory failure may benefit from veno-venous and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. We report on our initial experience of veno-veno-arterial (v-v-a) ECMO in patients with respiratory failure. METHODS: Between January 2012 and February 2014, 406 patients required ECMO support at our institution. Here, we retrospectively analysed the characteristics and outcomes of patients commenced on either veno-venous or veno-arterial ECMO due to respiratory failure, and then switched to v-v-a ECMO. RESULTS: Ten (2%) patients proceeded to v-v-a ECMO. The underlying conditions were acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 3), end-stage pulmonary fibrosis (n = 5) and respiratory failure after major thoracic surgery (n = 1) and Caesarean section (n = 1). In all of these patients, ECMO was initially started as veno-venous (n = 9) or veno-arterial (n = 1) ECMO but was switched to a veno-veno-arterial (v-v-a) approach after a mean of 2 (range, 0-7) days. Reasons for switching were: haemodynamic instability (right heart failure, n = 5; pericardial tamponade, n = 1; severe mitral valve regurgitation, n = 1; haemodynamic instability following cardiopulmonary resuscitation, n = 1 and evidence of previously unknown atrial septal defect with pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger syndrome, n = 1) and upper-body hypoxaemia (n = 1). ECMO-related complications were bleeding (n = 3) and leg ischaemia (n = 2). Seven patients were successfully taken off ECMO with 4 being bridged to recovery and a further 3 to lung transplantation after a mean of 11 (range, 9-18) days. Five patients survived until hospital discharge and all of them were alive at the end of the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Veno-veno-arterial ECMO is a technically feasible rescue strategy in treating patients presenting with combined respiratory and haemodynamic failure.