ABSTRACT
Introduction: Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of extracorporeal life support in critically ill patients with cardiorespiratory diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preliminary experience of the use of extracorporeal life support in patients with advanced pulmonary disease on the waiting list for lung transplantation. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive analysis of patients who received extracorporeal life support as a bridge to lung transplantation or to lung transplantation candidacy between August 2010 and July 2015. Results were analyzed according to: exclusion from the waiting list, transplant candidates and number of transplants performed. We described complications and causes of mortality, and duration of extracorporeal life support, mechanical respiratory assistance and post-transplant hospitalization. Twenty-three patients were included, with a mean age of 36 ± 17 years; 61% were female. The most common diagnoses were cystic fibrosis (34.8%), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (30.4%) and secondary pulmonary fibrosis (13.0%). Results: Mean time on extracorporeal life support was 14.4 ± 11.7 days; veno-venous support was implemented in 14 patients, veno-arterial support in 4 cases, arterio-venous in 3, and veno-arterio-venous in 2. Eight patients did not qualify as candidates for transplantation and were excluded from the waiting list. 15 patients were accepted as a bridge for lung transplant; 8 of them died while receiving extracorporeal life support, and 7 were transplanted. After the transplantation, one patient died and 6 were discharged from the hospital with more than one year survival. Conclusion: In our series, 46.7% of candidates had access to lung transplantation under extracorporeal life support. The implementation of an effective extracorporeal life support program as a bridge to lung transplantation requires the access to new technologies and the development of the Center's team experience.
Subject(s)
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation , Lung TransplantationABSTRACT
La insuficiencia cardiaca es considerada una de las enfermedades más prevalente de los últimos años. A pesar de los avances para su tratamiento con las nuevas drogas y dispositivos, como el cardiodesfibrilador implantable y la terapia de resincronización cardiaca, la progresión lleva a deterioro en la calidad de vida, frecuentes hospitalizaciones y altos porcentajes de mortalidad. En la etapa avanzada de esta enfermedad el trasplante cardiaco continua siendo de elección para su tratamiento, aunque no constituye la terapia adecuada para todos los pacientes. Muchos a la espera del mismo requieren soporte con drogas inotrópicas las cuales conllevan a deterioro progresivo y supervivencia limitada, cuando los tiempos de espera se prolongan o el trasplante no se realiza. Por esto, los avances en asistidores mecánicos permiten considerar a estos dispositivos como el tratamiento durante la espera del trasplante y como una alternativa en los cuales el trasplante no se considera una opción. Es nuestro objetivo realizar una revisión sobre los avances y la utilidad de los asistidores mecánicos en los pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca avanzada, en los cuales la última opción es el trasplante cardiaco.
Heart failure is considering one of the most prevalent diseases in recent years. Despite advances in the treatment with new drugs and devices such as implantable defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy, the progression in heart failure leads to deterioration in the quality of life, frequent hospitalizations and high mortality rates. Advanced stage of this disease remains heart transplantation for treatment choice, although is not the adequate therapy for all the patients. Many of them require support with inotropic drugs, which lead to a progressive deterioration and limited survival, because waiting times are prolonged or transplantation is not performed. Therefore, progress in circulatory support devices allow to consider these as the treatment while awaiting transplantation and an alternative when the transplant is not considered an option. It is our objective to review the progress and the usefulness of circulatory support devices in patients with advanced heart failure, in which the last option is heart transplantation.