Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support for neonatal and pediatric refractory septic shock: more than 15 years of learning.

The objective of the study was to report our institutional experience in the management of children and newborns with refractory septic shock who required venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) treatment, and to identify patient-and infection-related factors associated with mortality. This is a retrospective case series in an intensive care unit of a tertiary pediatric center. Inclusion criteria were patients ≤ 18 years old who underwent a VA ECMO due to a refractory septic shock due to circulatory collapse. Patient conditions and support immediately before ECMO, analytical and hemodynamic parameter evolution during ECMO, and post-canulation outcome data were collected. Twenty-one patients were included, 13 of them (65%) male. Nine were pediatric and 12 were newborns. Median septic shock duration prior to ECMO was 29.5 h (IQR, 20-46). Eleven patients (52.4%) suffered cardiac arrest (CA). Neonatal patients had worse Sepsis Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, Oxygenation Index and PaO2/FiO2 ratio, blood gas analysis, lactate levels, and left ventricular ejection fraction compared to pediatric patients. Survival was 33.3% among pediatric patients (60% if we exclude pneumococcal cases) and 50% among newborns. Hours of sepsis evolution and mean airway pressure (MAP) prior to ECMO were significantly higher in the non-survivor group. CA was not a predictor of mortality. Streptococcus pneumoniae infection was a mortality risk factor. There was an improvement in survival during the second period, from 14.3 to 57.2%, related to shorter sepsis evolution before ECMO placement, better candidate selection, and greater ECMO support once the patient was placed. CONCLUSION: Patients with refractory septic shock should be transferred precociously to a referral ECMO center. However, therapy should be used with caution in patients with vasoplegic pattern shock or S. pneumoniae sepsis. What is Known: • Children with refractory septic shock have significant mortality rates, and although ECMO is recommended, overall survival is low. • There are no studies regarding characteristics of infections as predictors of pediatric survival in ECMO. What is New: • Septic children should be transferred precociously to referral ECMO centers during the first hours if patients do not respond to conventional therapy. • Treatment should be used with caution in patients with vasoplegic pattern shock or S. pneumoniae sepsis.

Kinetics of Procalcitonin in Pediatric Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the kinetics of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in pediatric patients who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and to analyze its relationship with morbidity and mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study including pediatric patients who required ECMO. Both PCT and CRP were sequentially drawn before ECMO (P0) and until 72 hours after ECMO. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were recruited. Two cohorts were established based on the value of the P0 PCT (>10 ng/mL). Comparing the kinetics of PCT and CRP in these cohorts, the described curves were the expected for each clinical situation. The cutoff for P0 PCT to predict multiple organ dysfunction syndrome was 2.55 ng/mL (sensibility 83%, specificity 100%). Both PCT and CRP did not predict risk of neurologic sequelae or mortality in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Procalcitonin does not seem to be modified by ECMO and could be a good biomarker of evolution.