Variance in management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-associated fibrin sheaths at a single institution.

Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for patients with cardiac or respiratory failure has been increasingly used by advanced critical care practitioners. The thromboembolic complications of ECMO have been extensively discussed and researched; however, research and discussion on the development, risks, and management of cannulae-associated fibrin sheaths are lacking. Methods: Institutional review board approval was not required. We have presented three cases detailing the identification and individualized management of ECMO-associated fibrin sheaths at our institution. The three patients provided written informed consent for the report of their case details and imaging studies. Results: Of our three patients with ECMO-associated fibrin sheaths, two were managed successfully with anticoagulation alone. One could not receive anticoagulation therapy and underwent inferior vena cava filter placement. Conclusions: Fibrin sheath formation around indwelling ECMO cannulae is an unresearched complication of ECMO cannulation. We would recommend an individualized approach to the management of these fibrin sheaths and have provided three examples of successful management.

High-Dose Inhaled Nitric Oxide for the Treatment of Spontaneously Breathing Pregnant Patients With Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the use of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO)200 improves respiratory function. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used data from pregnant patients hospitalized with severe bilateral coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia at four teaching hospitals between March 2020 and December 2021. Two cohorts were identified: 1) those receiving standard of care alone (SoC cohort) and 2) those receiving iNO200 for 30 minutes twice daily in addition to standard of care alone (iNO200 cohort). Inhaled nitric oxide, as a novel therapy, was offered only at one hospital. The prespecified primary outcome was days free from any oxygen supplementation at 28 days postadmission. Secondary outcomes were hospital length of stay, rate of intubation, and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay. The multivariable-adjusted regression analyses accounted for age, body mass index, gestational age, use of steroids, remdesivir, and the study center. RESULTS: Seventy-one pregnant patients were hospitalized for severe bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia: 51 in the SoC cohort and 20 in the iNO200 cohort. Patients receiving iNO200 had more oxygen supplementation-free days (iNO200: median [interquartile range], 24 [23-26] days vs standard of care alone: 22 [14-24] days, P=.01) compared with patients in the SoC cohort. In the multivariable-adjusted analyses, iNO200 was associated with 63.2% (95% CI 36.2-95.4%; P<.001) more days free from oxygen supplementation, 59.7% (95% CI 56.0-63.2%; P<.001) shorter ICU length of stay, and 63.6% (95% CI 55.1-70.8%; P<.001) shorter hospital length of stay. No iNO200-related adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: In pregnant patients with severe bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia, iNO200 was associated with a reduced need for oxygen supplementation and shorter hospital stay.

Multimodality imaging and histopathology in a young man presenting with fulminant lymphocytic myocarditis and cardiogenic shock after mRNA-1273 vaccination.

A 38-year-old man presented with several days of chest pain and shortness of breath 8 days after receiving the first dose of an mRNA-1273 vaccine. The patient was found to have new left ventricular ejection fraction of 10% in the setting of hypotension and cardiogenic shock requiring mechanical support with an axial flow catheter pump. The presentation was concerning for acute fulminant myocarditis secondary to an inflammatory response from the recent mRNA-1273 vaccine. The patient was treated with pulse dose steroids for 3 days, ultimately leading to haemodynamic recovery and removal of mechanical circulatory support. Endomyocardial biopsy was performed and showed focal lymphocytic interstitial infiltrate with myocyte damage consistent with lymphocytic myocarditis. The patient had improvement of cardiac function which was seen on serial imaging.

Successful use of Impella 5.5 to manage cardiogenic shock complicated by COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Acute decompensated heart failure in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is becoming increasingly common. AIMS: In this case report, we describe the successful use of an Impella 5.5 (Abiomed) to treat cardiogenic shock refractory to inotropic therapy. MATERIALS & METHODS: Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography confirmed severely diminished left ventricular ejection fraction and a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction test revealed that the patient was COVID-19 positive during his hospital admission. RESULTS: Following initiation of inotropic therapy, we placed an Impella 5.5 for further cardiac support. The patient's LVEF and cardiac index improved after 21 days on the Impella 5.5 and was maintained following explant. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: The findings reported here demonstrate successful use of an Impella 5.5 to improve native heart function in refractory cardiogenic shock and further indicate its use as an option for those in acute decompensated heart failure who have tested positive for COVID-19 infection.

Successful Treatment of Pregnant and Postpartum Women With Severe COVID-19 Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

There are limited data on the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for pregnant and peripartum women with COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Pregnant women may exhibit more severe infections with COVID-19, requiring intensive care. We supported nine pregnant or peripartum women with COVID-19 ARDS with ECMO, all surviving and suffering no major complications from ECMO. Our case series demonstrates high-maternal survival rates with ECMO support in the management of COVID-19 associated severe ARDS, highlighting that these pregnant and postpartum patients should be supported with ECMO during this pandemic.