Echocardiographic Assessment of Biventricular Function in 249 Patients During the Peri-Extracorporeal Membrane...

At a quaternary care center that regularly performs and cares for patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a database of all adult patients since 2009 was assembled with echocardiographic parameters of left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular function. From the database, 175 venoarterial (VA) and 74 venovenous (VV) ECMO patients were analyzed to compare the decannulation echocardiographic assessments of biventricular function before, during, and after ECMO in survivors and nonsurvivors.

Retrospective chart review-based study.

A single quaternary care center.

All adult patients who received ECMO from 2009 to 2017 with both survival data and echographic studies were included in this retrospective study.

When indicated, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms were performed for ECMO patients. The results of these echocardiograms were reviewed retrospectively, and differences between survivors and nonsurvivors were examined.

A retrospective chart review of before, during cannulation, and after decannulation echocardiographic assessments of biventricular function was performed. On average, VA ECMO survivors had better post-decannulation LV function than did nonsurvivors by a full clinical grade-mild impairment versus moderate impairment (p < 0.001). RV function comparison was similar-mild impairment in survivors versus moderate impairment in nonsurvivors (p = 0.007). LV and RV function before and during ECMO in survivors was not different from that of nonsurvivors. The change in biventricular function from before to after cannulation and during cannulation to post-cannulation was approximately a full clinical grade better in survivors than nonsurvivors (p < 0.01 in all cases). In VV ECMO patients, post-decannulation RV function was significantly worse in nonsurvivors (moderate dysfunction vs borderline normal function) (p = 0.013).

Retrospective chart review of 249 patients suggests that echocardiographic assessment of biventricular function before ECMO cannulation is not prognostic in VA or VV ECMO patients. Post-decannulation assessment of biventricular function may aid in triaging more "at risk" patients because nonsurvivors have significantly worse biventricular function after decannulation. The failure to improve biventricular function from the before to after ECMO phases and the during to after ECMO phases is concerning for a poor prognosis.