Conversion to Veno-arteriovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Differential Hypoxia

Patients who require initial venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) support may need to undergo veno-arteriovenous ECMO (VAV ECMO) conversion. However, there are no definitive criteria for conversion to VAV ECMO. We report 9 cases of VAV ECMO at Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine.

Of 158 patients who received ECMO support between January 2017 and June 2019, 82 were supported by initial VA ECMO. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 9 patients (7 men and 2 women; age, 53.1±19.4 years) who had differential hypoxia and required VAV ECMO support. Percutaneous transaortic catheter venting was used to detect the differential hypoxia.

Among the 82 patients who received VA ECMO support, 9 (10.9%) had differential hypoxia and required conversion to VAV ECMO support. The mean time from VA ECMO support to VAV ECMO support and the mean duration of the VAV support were 2.1±2.2 days and 1.9±1.5 days, respectively. The average peak inspiratory pressure before and after VAV ECMO application was 23.89±3.95 cmH₂O and 20.67±5.72 cmH₂O, respectively, decreasing by an average of 3.2±3.5 cmH₂O (p=0.040). The PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio was kept below 100 mm Hg in survivors and non-survivors for 116±65.4 and 250±124.9 minutes, respectively (p=0.016). Six patients underwent extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, of whom 4 survived (67%). The overall survival rate of patients who underwent conversion from VA ECMO to VAV ECMO was approximately 56%.

Rapid detection of differential hypoxia is required when VA ECMO is applied, and efficient conversion to VAV ECMO may be critical for patient survival.