Percutaneous Mechanical Circulation Support Combined with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (oxyRVAD) in Secondary Right Heart Failure

ASAIO J. 2018 Jul/Aug;64(4):e64-e67. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000000754.

Abstract

Right heart failure (RHF) because of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a frequently encountered clinical problem with high mortality. The last resort, if pharmacological therapy fails, is mechanical circulatory support. There is a lack of percutaneous systems to support the right ventricle (RV). Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is widely used as a bailout in acute RHF in non-left ventricular assist device patients. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation does not unload the left ventricle and may cause failure of the left ventricle if used for a longer period of time. We report the long-term use of an ECMO-based percutaneous right ventricular assist system (oxyRVAD) capable to deliver up to 6 L/min of blood flow with a returning cannula placed in the main pulmonary artery used in RHF originating from PH with poor oxygenation. We present a series of four patients on oxyRVAD (mean treatment duration 15 ± 7.6 days). Patients benefited from the system clinically; however, two patients eventually died while on oxyRVAD. Nevertheless, we provide a proof-of-concept of this system in PH patients, which is feasible and might provide a useful "bridge-to-recovery" or "bridge-to-transplant" option in the management of patients with severe RHF because of PH.

MeSH terms

  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / methods*
  • Female
  • Heart-Assist Devices*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / complications
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / etiology
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / physiopathology
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / therapy*