Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) for emergency cardiac support.

PURPOSE: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) may provide benefit to patients in refractory cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock. We aim to summarize our center's 6-year experience with resuscitative VA-ECMO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective medical record review (April 2009 to 2015) was performed on consecutive non-cardiotomy patients who were managed with VA-ECMO due to refractory in- or out-of-hospital cardiac (IHCA/OHCA) arrest (E-CPR) or refractory cardiogenic shock (E-CS) with or without preceding cardiac arrest. Our primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge and good neurological status (Cerebral Performance Category 1-2). RESULTS: There were a total of 22 patients who met inclusion criteria of whom 9 received E-CPR (8 IHCA, 1 OHCA) and 13 received E-CS. The median age for E-CPR patients was 52 [IQR 45, 58] years, and 54 [IQR 38, 64] years for E-CS patients. Cardiac arrest duration was 70.33 (SD 39.56) min for the E-CPR patients, and 24.67 (SD 26.73) min for the 9 patients treated with E-CS who had previously arrested. Initial cardiac arrest rhythms were pulseless electrical activity (39%), ventricular fibrillation (33%), or ventricular tachycardia (28%). A total of 18/22 patients were successfully weaned from VA-ECMO (78%); 16 patients survived to hospital discharge (73%) with 15 in good neurological condition. CONCLUSION: The initiation of VA-ECMO at our center for treatment of refractory cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock yielded a high proportion of survivors and favorable neurological outcomes.

Multimodality imaging of a pulmonary artery sarcoma.

Pulmonary artery sarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm. Here, we describe a patient with a pulmonary artery sarcoma, which was only subtly visible and therefore not fully appreciated on initial transthoracic echocardiogram. Characterization of the tumor was aided by the use of multimodality imaging that included computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography. Familiarity with its appearance on multiple imaging modalities including echocardiography is important to ensure timely diagnosis, although the optimal treatment strategy is still unknown, and the prognosis remains poor.

Right ventricular wall hematoma due to thrombolytic therapy presenting as cardiac tamponade: a case report and review of literature.

Intramyocardial hematoma is an uncommon condition, most often occurring after myocardial infarction or chest trauma. A 54-year-old male patient with a large right ventricular wall hematoma who presented with cardiac tamponade three days after acute inferoposterior myocardial infarction and thrombolysis is described. This is the first report of intramyocardial hematoma related to thrombolytic therapy. The patient was managed conservatively with complete resolution of the right ventricular hematoma.