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Hypotension During Extracorporeal Circulatory Support Indicated for Cardiogenic Shock

Conditions
Extracorporeal Life Support
Hypotension
Vasoplegia
Interventions
Other: Arterial pressure management during circulatory support by VA-ECMO
Registration Number
NCT03968926
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital, Montpellier
Brief Summary

The cardiogenic shock is characterized by an alteration of organs function following a decrease in cardiac output linked to an impairment of cardiac performance. The prognosis remains poor with mortality between 40 and 50%. Nowadays, Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS or VA-ECMO) is the referent therapy to restore blood flow in the body when medical treatment is not sufficient. Despite a good blood flow provided by the ECLS, many patients develop a severe hypotension (so called vasoplegia) due to a loss of vascular resistance mainly explained by the inflammatory response to shock and extracorporeal circulation. The treatment of this reaction includes vasopressors (Norepinephrine in usual care) and serum surrogate perfusion to achieve a mean arterial pressure (MAP) above 65 mmHg.

The purpose of this study is to describe the patients with vasoplegia among a retrospective cohort of patients treated with an ECLS in our university center, over the 4 last years, to determine major complication rate (including death, kidney failure and arrythmias) and their outcome. This study will provide consistent data useful for further trials about targets of pressure and treatments to increase blood pressure during ECLS.

Detailed Description

Cardiogenic shock is characterized by global tissue hypoperfusion following a decrease in cardiac output by impairing myocardial performance in the absence of hypovolemia. This life-threatening hypoperfusion quickly leads to multiple organs dysfunction with a high risk of cardiac arrest. The main cause is ischemic. The prognosis remains poor with mortality between 40 and 50% and depends on the speed of care by a specialized team. Early etiologic treatment is essential, but initial symptomatic management is based on catecholamines, mainly norepinephrine and dobutamine. The intra-aortic balloon pump showed no improvement in survival in large randomized studies. Refractory cardiogenic shock is defined by the inefficiency or intolerance of catecholamines and the indication of temporary circulatory support should be considered as soon as possible in the absence of contraindications (comorbidities, advanced age, therapeutic limitation). The veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO or ECLS) is the preferred circulatory assistance in this indication because it provides an overall circulatory support up to 100% of the theoretical cardiac output, with oxygenation, and is quickly implanted peripherally (surgical or percutaneous cannulation of the femoral vein and the femoral artery). However, this extracorporeal circulation also has disadvantages by opposing a major afterload to the failing left ventricle and reducing or even abolishing the pulmonary circulation and blood flow in the heart chambers. In addition, the interaction with the artificial surfaces and the oxygenation membrane of the extracorporeal circuit contributes to the inflammatory response already initiated as a result of low cardiac output, tissue hypoperfusion, mesenteric ischemia and possibly myocardial infarction in case of acute coronary syndrome. This systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is similar to sepsis and its main clinical presentation is a vascular dysfunction resulting in vasoplegia and capillary leak syndrome responsible for relative hypovolemia and interstitial inflation.

Since the flow provided by the centrifugal pump is continuous, the blood pressure under VA-ECMO presents low or no pulsatile waves and is better represented by the mean arterial pressure (MAP). The ideal targets of MAP under VA-ECMO are controversial but it is widely accepted that the MAP should not be less than 65mmHg as recommended in septic shock to maintain an acceptable perfusion pressure and should not exceed 95mmHg to limit afterload. Between these limits, the MAP must be individualized according to each situation (hypertensive patient for example). In France, Norepinephrine is the first-line drug to achieve this goal of MAP after correction of volemia, without dose limitation in the absence of currently validated alternative, while resistance mechanisms can be activated, and its efficiency may be limited in case of acidosis. Potential side effects are the occurrence of atrial or ventricular arrhythmias, tachycardia, pro-inflammatory cytokine release, immunosuppression, renal dysfunction.

Management of MAP and vasopressors under VA-ECMO is poorly described in the literature (5), although Norepinephrine is widely used in routine practice. In particular, the investigators do not know the frequency of use and Norepinephrine doses during ECMO-VA, as well as their prognostic involvement. Vasoplegia during VA-ECMO is defined by a Norepinephrine dose greater than 0.1µg/kg/min after a 500ml fluid challenge despite overall blood flow (ECMO + native heart) greater than 2l/min/m2 or allowing to achieve 65% of ScvO2.

This cohort study aims to describe the vasoplegia observed during VA-ECMO, the Norepinephrine treatment characteristics, complications and outcome. The primary end-point is the incidence of a composite criteria of major complications including death, acute kidney injury and arrythmias.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
150
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Vasoplegic ECMOArterial pressure management during circulatory support by VA-ECMOAll patients during VA-ECMO support for cardiogenic shock who presented, within 48 hours after implantation, a vasoplegia defined by a norepinephrine dose greater than 0.1µg/kg/min after a 500ml fluid challenge despite overall blood flow (ECMO + native heart) greater than 2l/min/m2 or allowing to achieve 65% of ScvO2
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Major complication composite criteriaUp to 7 days for acute kidney injury and arrythmia, and 30 days for death

Observation of acute kidney injury defined by KDIGO classification 2 or 3, or severe arrythmia (i.e. atrial fibrillation with heart rate above 150bpm or a mean arterial pressure decrease of at least 20%, sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation), or death

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Serious adverse eventsTrough VA-ECMO time completion, an average of 2 weeks

Stroke, bleeding requiring blood transfusion or surgical revision, limb ischemia, mesenteric ischemia, documented infection

Initial refractory hypotensionUp to 2 hours

Norepinephrine dose maintained always above 1µg/kg/min during the first 2 hours after VA-ECMO implantation for a minimal mean arterial pressure target at 65mmHg

ECMO flowUp to 7 days

lowest and highest flow of VA-ECMO (L/min)

Hydric balanceUp to 7 days

Total hydric balance calculated from day 0 to day 7 (ml)

Hospital staythrough study completion, an average of 3 month

Length (days) of hospital stay from the VA-ECMO implantation before current care ward discharge (excluding rehabilitation time)

Issue of VA-ECMO7 days after VA-ECMO withdrawal

Status after VA-ECMO including death, heart transplant, ventricular assist device, recovery, shock recurrence, therapy limitation

Organ failure assessmentAt day 0, 5 and 10 after VA-ECMO implantation

Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (0 to 24), higher values represent a worse outcome

Pulse pressureUp to 7 days

lowest and highest pulse pressure (mmHg) defined by the difference between systolic and diastolic pressure

LactateUp to 7 days

Highest lactate level of the day (mmol/l)

Intensive care unit staythrough study completion, an average of 3 month

Length (days) of intensive care unit stay from the VA-ECMO implantation

Native cardiac outputUp to 7 days

lowest and highest cardiac output (L/min) measured by echocardiography (Doppler aortic Velocity Time Integration) or by a pulmonary artery catheter

Refractory vasoplegiaUp to 7 days

Norepinephrine dose above 1µg/kg/min required to maintain mean arterial pressure above 65mmHg or at the personalized mean arterial pressure target

Mortality rateThrough ICU discharge, an average of 1 month, up to 7, 30 and 90 days

Overall mortality rate

VA-ECMO free daysAt 30 days from the VA-ECMO implantation

Number of days alive free of VA-ECMO at 30 days after VA-ECMO implantation

Mean arterial pressureUp to 7 days

lowest and highest mean arterial pressure (mmHg)

ScvO2Up to 7 days

Highest and lowest central venous oxygen saturation (%)

Urine outputUp to 7 days

Total urine output of the day (ml/24H)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Uh Montpellier

🇫🇷

Montpellier, France

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