International Perfusion Association

Day: March 9, 2024

Aortic Flow

Aortic Arch Blood Flow Measurements as a Predictor of Successful ECMO Weaning in Cardiogenic Shock

This explorative pilot study investigates the role of aortic arch blood flow measurements, using ultrasonic cardiac output monitoring (USCOM), in predicting successful weaning from veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in patients with acute cardiogenic shock. Including 12 patients eligible for a stepwise weaning process, the study found that peak velocity of flow in the aortic arch positively correlates with weaning success, independent of ECMO flow rates. While mean pressure gradient, minute distance, and stroke volume index showed only trends, the study suggests USCOM could complement current strategies by predicting weaning outcomes and preventing pulmonary congestion. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and establish standardized weaning protocols.

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Redo AVR

Recent Outcomes of Surgical Redo Aortic Valve Replacement in Prosthetic Valve Failure

This study analyzed the clinical outcomes of redo surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) for prosthetic valve failure from 2010 to 2021 across four tertiary centers, involving 324 patients. The primary focus was on operative mortality, with secondary outcomes including overall survival, cardiac death, and aortic valve-related events. The findings revealed that redo AVR poses a relatively high risk, particularly in patients with endocarditis, resulting in a 4.6% overall operative mortality. However, for patients without endocarditis, the operative mortality decreased significantly to 2.5%. Risk factors identified for operative mortality included endocarditis, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time, and lower left ventricular ejection fraction. The study concludes that redo AVR offers excellent outcomes for patients without endocarditis, especially those with acceptable left ventricular ejection fraction.

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