Chest Tubes in COVID-19 Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Time To Revisit Our Approach?

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of chest tubes (CT) inserted via three approaches in COVID-19 patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) open thoracostomies (OT), percutaneously at bedside (PERC), and percutaneously by interventional radiology (PERC IR). Methods: We conducted an institutional review board - approved retrospective study of all COVID-19 patients who required CT placement while undergoing ECMO in our institution from February 2020 till February 2022. Insertions prior to ECMO cannulation or after decannulation, and those related to post-operative lung transplantation during ECMO were excluded from our analysis. Depending on the insertion approach, eligible CT insertion events were divided in three groups OT, PERC and PERC IR. Data regarding patients' demographics and CT characteristics, clinical indications and associated complications for each group were collected and analyzed. Bleeding related to CT insertion was diagnosed based on requirement of blood transfusion, cessation of anticoagulation and/or ongoing bloody CT output. Results: Study criteria were met by 43 patients, with 35 (83.7%) of male sex. Mean age was 45 years. Mean BMI was 31.6 kg/m2. Forty patients (93.0%) had COVID-related acute respiratory distress syndrome as primary diagnosis. All patients but one had been receiving therapeutic anticoagulation which was held prior to CT insertion. Eighty-seven CT insertion events were recorded, of which 34 (39.1%) comprised the OT group, 20 (23.0%) the PERC group, and 33 (37.9%) the PERC IR group. Table 1 demonstrates a descriptive comparison of CT and insertion data among the three groups. Table 2 depicts the major outcomes among the three groups. Conclusions: For COVID-19 patients on ECMO, insertion of CTs percutaneously by IR is associated with significantly fewer bleeding episodes, transfusions, thoracic consults and explorations in the operating room compared to bedside OT or percutaneous CTs. One third of the percutaneously placed CTs by IR required tube upsizing in the IR suite, a rate still lower compared to the overall CT manipulations or repeat interventions required for CTs inserted via OT or percutaneously at bedside. (Table Presented).