Right ventricular assist device with an oxygenator using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung transplantation in a patient with severe respiratory failure and right heart decompensation

Abstract

Right heart decompensation is a fatal complication in patients with respiratory failure, particularly in those transitioned to lung transplantation using veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO). In these patients, veno-arterial (V-A ECMO) or veno-arterial-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-AV ECMO) is used to support both cardiac and respiratory function. However, these processes may increase the risk of device-related complications such as bleeding, thromboembolism, and limb ischemia. In the present case, a 64-year-old male patient with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis developed respiratory failure and commenced treatment with V-V ECMO as a bridge to lung transplantation. Unfortunately, the patient developed right heart decompensation and required both cardiac and respiratory support during treatment with V-V ECMO. Instead of adding arterial cannulation, he was switched to a novel configuration, a right ventricular assist device with an oxygenator (Oxy-RVAD) using ECMO, with drainage cannulation from the femoral vein and return cannulation to the main pulmonary artery. The patient was successfully bridged to lung transplantation without serious complications after 10 days of Oxy-RVAD support. To the best of our knowledge, this is an extreme rare and challenging case of Oxy-RVAD using ECMO in a patient successfully bridged to lung transplantation.

Lung transplantation has become standard-of-care for patients with nonmalignant end-stage lung disease [1]. However, increasing wait time and significant mortalities while on the wait list continues to be an issue, as the need for donor lungs far exceeds their availability [2]. In such patients, veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) which supports respiratory function, may be considered as a bridge to lung transplantation [3].

Unfortunately, right heart decompensation is a known complication of V-V ECMO and causes hemodynamic instability [4]. Because this potentially-fatal problem requires both cardiac and respiratory support, immediate interventions are required. These can include the addition of arterial cannulation and switching to veno-arterial (V-A ECMO) or veno-arterial-venous ECMO (V-AV ECMO) [4]. However, these configurations may increase the risk of device-related complications such as bleeding, thromboembolism, and limb ischemia and may interfere with early rehabilitation [5].

Herein, we report our extraordinary experience with a novel configuration, a right ventricular assist device with an oxygenator (Oxy-RVAD) using ECMO, in a patient with respiratory failure who developed right heart decompensation during treatment with V-V ECMO. The patient was successfully bridged to lung transplantation, without serious complications, after 10 days of Oxy-RVAD support.

CASE REPORT

A 64-year-old male (height, 168 cm; weight, 57 kg; body surface area, 1.63 m²) was admitted to Asan Medical Center due to acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and high-dose corticosteroids including pulse therapy with methylprednisolone 500 mg/day for 3 consecutive days. However, the patient’s condition rapidly deteriorated and, unfortunately, he was intubated and transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) 13 days after hospital admission. The bedside transthoracic echocardiography and the blood level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) performed at the time of ICU admission revealed no evidence of resting pulmonary hypertension and right heart decompensation (peak tricuspid valve regurgitation velocity, 2.5 m/sec; tricuspid lateral annulus doppler tissue imaging tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity (S’), 15.9 cm/sec; and BNP, 55 pg/mL) (Table 1).

Table 1.

Serial changes in clinical parameters

Variable	V-V ECMO	Oxy-RVAD	After Oxy-RVAD	Transplant	After transplant
ICU day	2	20	24	30	45
Echocardiography
Peak TR velocity (m/sec)	2.5	3.7	3.3	Not performed	2.8
Tricuspid lateral annulus DTI S’ (cm/sec)	15.9	6.2	7.2	Not performed	9.9
Laboratoryfinding
BNP (pg/mL)	55	1,131	474	297	228
AST/ALT (IU/L)	29/34	41/32	21/22	27/23	24/46
Medication
Norepinephrine (μg/kg/min)	0.02	0.08	Not administered	Not administered	Not administered
Vasopressin (units/min)	0.02	0.04	Not administered	Not administered	Not administered
Epinephrine (μg/kg/min)	Not administered	0.10	Not administered	Not administered	Not administered

V-V ECMO: veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Oxy-RVAD: right ventricular assist device with an oxygenator; ICU: intensive care unit; TR: tricuspid valve regurgitation; DTI: doppler tissue imaging; S’: tricuspid lateral annulus doppler tissue imaging tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity; BNP: brain natriuretic peptide; AST: aspartate transaminase; ALT: alanine transaminase.

Because the patient was on a wait list for lung transplantation, we decided to support him with V-V ECMO as a bridge to lung transplantation. Initial V-V ECMO was established the day after ICU admission using a CAPIOX EBS Integrated LX circuit (Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corp., Tokyo, Japan) which includes an oxygenator and centrifugal pump. After administering 3,000 units of heparin intravenously, cannulation was performed at ICU bedside using the Seldinger technique under ultrasound guidance. A 24-Fr cannula (RMI; Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA) was inserted into the right femoral vein to drain blood from the inferior vena cava. A 17-Fr cannula (Bio-Medicus; Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) was inserted into the right internal jugular vein to return blood to the right atrium. The initial ECMO flow rate was 3.9 L/min with a fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) of 100% and a gas sweep of 4.0 L/min. The initial fraction of recirculated blood was 56%, and was measured using ELSA Monitor (Transonic, Ithaca, NY, USA). Because of the high fraction of recirculated blood, we withdrew the drainage cannula by 5 cm and increased the distance between drainage and return cannulae from 4 cm to 9 cm to reduce recirculation (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Chest radiographs showing initial position of drainage and return cannulae (A) and those after adjustment due to recirculation (B). Note that the increased distance between drainage and return cannulae after adjustment.

A percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy was performed on ECMO day 4, but a bleeding complication occurred at the tracheostomy site. Systemic heparinization was stopped for 24 hours and a topical treatment with 1:1,000 epinephrine-soaked gauze was applied. No systemic hemostatic agents were administered. Unfortunately, blood clots appeared within the oxygenator membrane on ECMO day 5. We therefore decided to change the ECMO circuit, including the oxygenator membrane and centrifugal pump. A second V-V ECMO was established on ECMO day 5 using a QUADROX PLS System (Maquet Cardiopulmonary AG, Rastatt, Germany). An ECMO flow rate of 4.0 L/min was achieved with a FiO₂ of 100% and a gas sweep of 4.0 L/min. The fraction of recirculated blood was 43% at the time of EMCO circuit change.

The patient was fully awakened and actively rehabilitated up to standing by participation in our rehabilitation program. However, at ECMO day 17, patient’s right heart function began to worsen (Table 1). The echocardiography revealed Dshaped left ventricle with dilated right ventricle and newly developed resting pulmonary hypertension with right ventricular dysfunction (peak tricuspid valve regurgitation velocity, 3.7 m/sec; tricuspid lateral annulus doppler tissue imaging S’, 6.2 cm/sec). The blood level of BNP also increased to 1,131 pg/mL. Inotropes such as epinephrine were immediately applied, but without improvement in right heart decompensation. As the patient’s condition continued to deteriorate despite all medical treatments, we decided to switch his configuration to a Oxy-RVAD using ECMO to enhance gas exchange, improve hemodynamic stability, and facilitate rehabilitation.

At ECMO day 19, the patient was transferred to the operating room and underwent configuration switching to Oxy-RVAD using ECMO, with drainage cannulation from the left femoral vein and return cannulation to the main pulmonary artery (Figure 2). Under general anesthesia, we performed a 5-cm sized left anterior thoracotomy at the second intercostal space. A 22-Fr cannula (DLP, Medtronic Inc.) was inserted and end-to-side anastomosed to the main pulmonary artery (Figure 3). Because the drain cannula at the right femoral vein was already used for 19 days and a catheter-related infection could not be excluded, a new 24-Fr cannula (RMI, Edwards Life-sciences) was inserted into the left femoral vein, and the previous one on the contralateral side was removed. The patient was then transferred to the ICU and monitored closely. At the time of ICU transfer, we achieved an ECMO flow rate of 3.5 L/min, with a FiO₂ of 100% and a gas sweep of 4.0 L/min. Immediately after switching the configuration to Oxy-RVAD using ECMO, the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO₂) increased from 77.9 mmHg to 514.0 mmHg under similar ECMO and ventilator settings, suggesting improved efficacy of ECMO and a decreased fraction of recirculated blood.

Figure 2.

A chest radiograph showing drainage cannula at right atrium (RA) and return cannula at main pulmonary artery (MPA) in right ventricular assist device with an oxygenator support.

Figure 3.

A clinical photograph showing end-to-side anastomosis of return cannula to main pulmonary artery in right ventricular assist device with an oxygenator support.

After 4 days from Oxy-RVAD support, a follow-up echocardiography was performed (Table 1). Although the resting pulmonary hypertension and global right ventricular hypokinesia were still present, both were improved (peak tricuspid valve regurgitation velocity, 3.3 m/sec; tricuspid lateral annulus doppler tissue imaging S’: 7.2 cm/sec). The right ventricle size was decreased to 26 mm and the D-shaped left ventricle was disappeared. The blood level of BNP also decreased to 474 pg/mL. The patient was actively rehabilitated with Oxy-RVAD support and successfully bridged to lung transplantation without serious complication at ECMO day 29, after 10 days from Oxy-RVAD support. The patient was weaned from Oxy-RVAD upon lung transplantation and successfully discharged from the ICU at postoperative day 18.

DISCUSSION

V-V ECMO may be considered in patients with severe respiratory failure, particularly those awaiting lung transplantation [3]. However, right heart decompensation often occurs and causes hemodynamic instability which requires both cardiac and respiratory supports during treatment with V-V ECMO [4]. There are several current medical treatments for right heart decompensation including fluid optimization, inotropes, adjustment of ventilator settings, and inhaled nitric oxide [4]. However, these may not be sufficient for patients with hemodynamic instability and, in such patients, mechanical support with V-A or V-AV ECMO may be required [4,5].

Adding arterial cannulation to V-A or V-AV ECMO, which is usually accessed peripherally via the femoral artery at bedside, contributes to hemodynamic stability by providing cardiopulmonary support [4,5]. However, like a double-edged sword, it may increase the risk of device-related complications such as bleeding, thromboembolisms, and limb ischemia. Moreover, the peripherally-infused retrograde blood flow into the aorta may also cause catastrophic complications including intracardiac thrombosis and upper body ischemia [5]. In addition, peripherally-inserted arterial cannulation within the inguinal area may interfere with early rehabilitation which is important for patients awaiting lung transplantation, in order to maintain their candidacy [6].

On the other hand, RVAD and Oxy-RVAD seem to provide a more physiological solution for right heart decompensation as these procedures maintain anterograde and normal transpulmonary blood flow [7,8]. Furthermore, Noly et al. [8] reported that RVAD is associated with significantly fewer thromboembolic complications than V-A ECMO. In addition, as the ECMO with central or upper body configuration has strength in rehabilitation compared to peripherally inserted V-A ECMO [9], the Oxy-RVAD using ECMO which has return cannula at main pulmonary artery also has the advantage of allowing patients to get out of bed and participate in physical therapy by virtue of the absence of arterial cannula at inguinal area. Although there are reports that RVAD may increase pulmonary arterial pressure, potentially causing pulmonary hemorrhage in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension [10], these reports are mostly limited to patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension which has a different pathophysiology and clinical manifestation than pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic lung disease. Few patients with chronic lung disease are included among those with severe pulmonary hypertension [11]; therefore, we assume that pulmonary hemorrhages related to RVAD would be identified less-frequently in these patients.

In summary, we report on our extraordinary experience with Oxy-RVAD using ECMO in a patient with both severe respiratory failure and right heart decompensation. The patient was actively rehabilitated and successfully bridged to lung transplantation without serious complications after 10 days of Oxy-RVAD support. To the best of our knowledge, this is an extreme rare and challenging case of Oxy-RVAD using ECMO which was successfully bridged to lung transplantation. This technique may therefore be beneficial to other patients with similar conditions. In addition, the issues related to possible complications of Oxy-RVAD, such as increased pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary hemorrhage, also need to be addressed in future studies. However, Oxy-RVAD with ECMO support may provide a successful bridge to lung transplantation may be achieved in a patient with severe respiratory failure and right heart decompensation.