Prophylactic Transfusion Strategies in Children Supported by Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation:The Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Anticoagulation CollaborativE Consensus Conference

OBJECTIVES: To derive systematic-review informed, modified Delphi consensus regarding prophylactic transfusions in neonates and children supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) from the Pediatric ECMO Anticoagulation CollaborativE.DATA SOURCES: A structured literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library (CENTRAL) databases from January 1988 to May 2020, with an update in May 2021.STUDY SELECTION: Included studies assessed use of prophylactic blood product transfusion in pediatric ECMO.DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors reviewed all citations independently, with a third independent reviewer resolving conflicts. Thirty-three references were used for data extraction and informed recommendations. Evidence tables were constructed using a standardized data extraction form.MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Forty-eight experts met over 2 years to develop evidence-informed recommendations and, when evidence was lacking, expert-based consensus statements or good practice statements for prophylactic transfusion strategies for children supported with ECMO. A web-based modified Delphi process was used to build consensus via the Research And Development/University of California Appropriateness Method. Consensus was based on a modified Delphi process with agreement defined as greater than 80%. We developed two good practice statements, 4 weak recommendations, and three expert consensus statements.CONCLUSIONS: Despite the frequency with which pediatric ECMO patients are transfused, there is insufficient evidence to formulate evidence-based prophylactic transfusion strategies.</p

A multidisciplinary approach to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia is associated with resolution of pulmonary hypertension

ObjectiveTo describe our multidisciplinary bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) consult team's systematic approach to BPD associated pulmonary hypertension (PH), to report our center outcomes, and to evaluate clinical associations with outcomes.Study designRetrospective cohort of 60 patients with BPD-PH who were referred to the Seattle Children's Hospital BPD team from 2018 to 2020. Patients with critical congenital heart disease were excluded. Demographics, comorbidities, treatments, closure of hemodynamically relevant intracardiac shunts, and clinical outcomes including time to BPD-PH resolution were reviewed.ResultsMedian gestational age of the 60 patients was 25 weeks (IQR: 24–26). 20% were small for gestational age (SGA), 65% were male, and 25% received a tracheostomy. With aggressive cardiopulmonary management including respiratory support optimization, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and atrial septal defect (ASD) closure (40% PDA, 5% ASD, 3% both), and limited use of pulmonary vasodilators (8%), all infants demonstrated resolution of PH during the follow-up period, including three (5%) who later died from non-BPD-PH morbidities. Neither SGA status nor the timing of PH diagnosis (&lt;36 vs. ≥36 weeks PMA) impacted the time to BPD-PH resolution in our cohort [median 72 days (IQR 30.5–166.5)].ConclusionOur multidisciplinary, systematic approach to BPD-PH management was associated with complete resolution of PH with lower mortality despite less sildenafil use than reported in comparable cohorts. Unique features of our approach included aggressive PDA and ASD device closure and rare initiation of sildenafil only after lack of BPD-PH improvement with respiratory support optimization and diagnostic confirmation by cardiac catheterization

Utility of echocardiography in predicting mortality in infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia

This article is made available for unrestricted research re-use and secondary analysis in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic.Objective: To determine the relationship between interventricular septal position (SP) and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and mortality in infants with severe BPD (sBPD). Study design: Infants with sBPD in the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Database who had echocardiograms 34-44 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA) were included. SP and RVSP were categorized normal, abnormal (flattened/bowed SP or RVSP > 40 mmHg) or missing. Results: Of 1157 infants, 115 infants (10%) died. Abnormal SP or RVSP increased mortality (SP 19% vs. 8% normal/missing, RVSP 20% vs. 9% normal/missing, both p < 0.01) in unadjusted and multivariable models, adjusted for significant covariates (SP OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.0; RVSP OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.7). Abnormal parameters had high specificity (SP 82%; RVSP 94%), and negative predictive value (SP 94%, NPV 91%) for mortality. Conclusions: Abnormal SP or RVSP is independently associated with mortality in sBPD infants. Negative predictive values distinguish infants most likely to survive

Executive Summary:The Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Anticoagulation CollaborativE (PEACE) Consensus Conference

OBJECTIVES: To present recommendations and consensus statements with supporting literature for the clinical management of neonates and children supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) from the Pediatric ECMO Anticoagulation CollaborativE (PEACE) consensus conference.DATA SOURCES: Systematic review was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library (CENTRAL) databases from January 1988 to May 2021, followed by serial meetings of international, interprofessional experts in the management ECMO for critically ill children.STUDY SELECTION: The management of ECMO anticoagulation for critically ill children.DATA EXTRACTION: Within each of eight subgroup, two authors reviewed all citations independently, with a third independent reviewer resolving any conflicts.DATA SYNTHESIS: A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases, from January 1988 to May 2021. Each panel developed evidence-based and, when evidence was insufficient, expert-based statements for the clinical management of anticoagulation for children supported with ECMO. These statements were reviewed and ratified by 48 PEACE experts. Consensus was obtained using the Research and Development/UCLA Appropriateness Method. Results were summarized using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation method. We developed 23 recommendations, 52 expert consensus statements, and 16 good practice statements covering the management of ECMO anticoagulation in three broad categories: general care and monitoring; perioperative care; and nonprocedural bleeding or thrombosis. Gaps in knowledge and research priorities were identified, along with three research focused good practice statements.CONCLUSIONS: The 91 statements focused on clinical care will form the basis for standardization and future clinical trials.</p

Ventilation Strategies During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Neonatal Respiratory Failure: Current Approaches Among Level IV Neonatal ICUs

To describe ventilation strategies used during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for neonatal respiratory failure among level IV neonatal ICUs (NICUs). Design: Cross-sectional electronic survey. Setting: Email-based Research Electronic Data Capture survey. Patients: Neonates undergoing ECMO for respiratory failure at level IV NICUs. Interventions: A 40-question survey was sent to site sponsors of regional referral neonatal ECMO centers participating in the Children\u27s Hospitals Neonatal Consortium. Reminder emails were sent at 2- and 4-week intervals. Measurements and main results: Twenty ECMO centers responded to the survey. Most primarily use venoarterial ECMO (65%); this percentage is higher (90%) for congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Sixty-five percent reported following protocol-based guidelines, with neonatologists primarily responsible for ventilator management (80%). The primary mode of ventilation was pressure control (90%), with synchronized intermittent mechanical ventilation (SIMV) comprising 80%. Common settings included peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) of 16-20 cm H2O (55%), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 9-10 cm H2O (40%), I-time 0.5 seconds (55%), rate of 10-15 (60%), and Fio2 22-30% (65%). A minority of sites use high-frequency ventilation (HFV) as the primary mode (5%). During ECMO, 55% of sites target some degree of lung aeration to avoid complete atelectasis. Fifty-five percent discontinue inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) during ECMO, while 60% use iNO when trialing off ECMO. Nonventilator practices to facilitate decannulation include bronchoscopy (50%), exogenous surfactant (25%), and noninhaled pulmonary vasodilators (50%). Common ventilator thresholds for decannulation include PEEP of 6-7 (45%), PIP of 21-25 (55%), and tidal volume 5-5.9 mL/kg (50%). Conclusions: The majority of level IV NICUs follow internal protocols for ventilator management during neonatal respiratory ECMO, and neonatologists primarily direct management in the NICU. While most centers use pressure-controlled SIMV, there is considerable variability in the range of settings used, with few centers using HFV primarily. Future studies should focus on identifying respiratory management practices that improve outcomes for neonatal ECMO patients

Executive Summary: The Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Anticoagulation CollaborativE (PEACE) Consensus Conference

OBJECTIVES: To present recommendations and consensus statements with supporting literature for the clinical management of neonates and children supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) from the Pediatric ECMO Anticoagulation CollaborativE (PEACE) consensus conference. DATA SOURCES: Systematic review was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library (CENTRAL) databases from January 1988 to May 2021, followed by serial meetings of international, interprofessional experts in the management ECMO for critically ill children. STUDY SELECTION: The management of ECMO anticoagulation for critically ill children. DATA EXTRACTION: Within each of eight subgroup, two authors reviewed all citations independently, with a third independent reviewer resolving any conflicts. DATA SYNTHESIS: A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases, from January 1988 to May 2021. Each panel developed evidence-based and, when evidence was insufficient, expert-based statements for the clinical management of anticoagulation for children supported with ECMO. These statements were reviewed and ratified by 48 PEACE experts. Consensus was obtained using the Research and Development/UCLA Appropriateness Method. Results were summarized using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation method. We developed 23 recommendations, 52 expert consensus statements, and 16 good practice statements covering the management of ECMO anticoagulation in three broad categories: general care and monitoring; perioperative care; and nonprocedural bleeding or thrombosis. Gaps in knowledge and research priorities were identified, along with three research focused good practice statements. CONCLUSIONS: The 91 statements focused on clinical care will form the basis for standardization and future clinical trials

Comparison of the Sensormedics® 3100A and Bronchotron® transporter in a neonatal piglet ARDS model

The Sensormedics® 3100A (Cardinal Health, Dublin, OH) (HFOV) and the Bronchotron® (Percussionaire, Sandpoint, ID) (HFPV) are high‐frequency ventilation devices used to support neonatal respiratory failure; however, a comparison of the devices, with respect to gas exchange at similar ventilator settings, has not been previously studied. Thus, we compared the ability of HFOV to that of HFPV to provide oxygenation and ventilation during acute lung injury in a newborn animal model. Using a saline lung lavage model, 12 neonatal piglets were randomized to initial support with either the HFOV or HFPV with settings adjusted to achieve PaCO2 of 45–60 mmHg. After stabilization, ventilator settings and arterial blood gases were serially recorded for 30 min. Animals were then crossed over to the alternative device set to deliver the same Vt, MAP, and F for an additional 30 min with the same parameters recorded. We found that the ΔP needed to generate adequate Vt on HFPV (35 ± 7 cmH2O) trended higher versus HFOV (31 ± 7 cmH2O P = 0.09) when the devices were matched for Vt, F, and MAP. No significant differences in ventilation (PaCO2 = 50 ± 10.7 mmHg vs. 46 ± 10 mmHg, P = 0.22) or oxygenation (PaO2 = 150 ± 76 mmHg vs. 149 ± 107 mmHg, P = 0.57) between the devices were found. We conclude that HFPV ventilates and oxygenates as well as HFOV at equivalent ventilator settings. HFPV may require larger ΔP's to generate equivalent Vt. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:693–700

A 22-year experience in global transport extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Transport extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is currently available at 12 centers. We report a 22-year experience from the only facility providing global transport ECMO. Indications for transport ECMO include lack of ECMO services, inability to transport conventionally, inability to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and need to move a patient on ECMO for specialized services such as organ transplantation. METHODS: Retrospective database review of children undergoing inhouse and transport ECMO from 1985 to 2007. RESULTS: Sixty-eight children underwent transport ECMO. Fifty-six were transported on ECMO into our facility. The remaining 12 were moved between 2 outside locations. Ground vehicles and fixed-wing aircraft were used. Distance transported was 8 to 7500 miles (13-12070 km), mean 1380 miles (2220 km). There were 116 inhouse ECMO runs. No child died during transport. Survival to discharge after transport ECMO was 65% (44/68) and, for inhouse ECMO, was 70% (81/116). CONCLUSIONS: Transport ECMO is feasible and effective, with survival rates comparable to inhouse ECMO. We have used transport ECMO to help children at non-ECMO centers with pulmonary failure who have not improved with inhaled nitric oxide and high-frequency ventilation. We have also transported a child after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which may represent an emerging indication for transport ECMO. Transport ECMO often is the only option for children too unstable for conventional transport or those already on ECMO and requiring a specialized service at another facility, such as organ transplantation