Left atrium veno-arterial extra corporeal membrane oxygenation as temporary mechanical support for cardiogenic shock: A case report

Rossana Lamastra; David Michael Abbott; Antonella Degani; Carlo Pellegrini; Roberto Veronesi; Stefano Pelenghi; Chiara Dezza; Giulia Gazzaniga; Mirko Belliato

doi:10.12998/wjcc.v11.i27.6531

Left atrium veno-arterial extra corporeal membrane oxygenation as temporary mechanical support for cardiogenic shock: A case report

World J Clin Cases. 2023 Sep 26;11(27):6531-6536. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i27.6531.

Authors

Rossana Lamastra¹, David Michael Abbott², Antonella Degani³, Carlo Pellegrini⁴, Roberto Veronesi⁵, Stefano Pelenghi⁶, Chiara Dezza⁵, Giulia Gazzaniga¹, Mirko Belliato⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgical, Pediatric and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, PV, Italy.
² Department of Surgical, Pediatric and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, PV, Italy. david.abbott01@universitadipavia.it.
³ Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia 27100, PV, Italy.
⁴ Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences Department, University of Pavia, Italy - Department of Cardiac Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia 27100, PV, Italy.
⁵ SC-AR2 Anestesia e Terapia Intensiva Cardiotoracica Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia 27100, PV, Italy.
⁶ Department of Cardiac Surgery 1, IRCCS University Hospital Foundation "San Matteo", Pavia 27100, Italy.

Abstract

Background: Veno-arterial extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support is commonly complicated with left ventricle (LV) distension in patients with cardiogenic shock. We resolved this problem by transeptally converting VA-ECMO to left atrium veno-arterial (LAVA)-ECMO that functioned as a temporary paracorporeal left ventricular assist device to resolve LV distension. In our case LAVA-ECMO was also functioning as a bridge-to-transplant device, a technique that has been scarcely reported in the literature.

Case summary: A 65 year-old man suffered from acute myocardial injury that required percutaneous stents. Less than two weeks later, noncompliance to antiplatelet therapy led to stent thrombosis, cardiogenic shock, and cardiac arrest. Femoro-femoral VA-ECMO support was started, and the patient underwent a second coronary angiography with re-stenting and intra-aortic balloon pump placement. The VA-ECMO support was complicated by left ventricular distension which we resolved via LAVA-ECMO. Unfortunately, episodes of bleeding and sepsis complicated the clinical picture and the patient passed away 27 d after initiating VA-ECMO.

Conclusion: This clinical case demonstrates that LAVA-ECMO is a viable strategy to unload the LV without another invasive percutaneous or surgical procedure. We also demonstrate that LAVA-ECMO can also be weaned to a left ventricular assist device system. A benefit of this technique is that the procedure is potentially reversible, should the patient require VA-ECMO support again. A transeptal LV venting approach like LAVA-ECMO may be indicated over Impella^TM in cases where less LV unloading is required and where a restrictive myocardium could cause LV suctioning. Left ventricular over-distention is a well-known complication of peripheral VA-ECMO in cardiogenic shock and LAVA ECMO through transeptal cannulation offers a novel and safe approach for treating LV overloading, without the need of an additional percutaneous access.

Keywords: Case report; Left atrium venoarterial extra corporeal membrane oxygenation; Shock.

Publication types

Case Reports