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A bi‐centric experience of extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO 2 R) for acute hypercapnic respiratory failure following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Author(s) -
Wohlfarth Philipp,
Schellongowski Peter,
Staudinger Thomas,
Rabitsch Werner,
Hermann Alexander,
Buchtele Nina,
Turki Amin T.,
Tzalavras Asterios,
Liebregts Tobias
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1111/aor.13931
Subject(s) - medicine , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation , hypercapnia , respiratory failure , mechanical ventilation , decompensation , pneumonia , retrospective cohort study , transplantation , extracorporeal , surgery , respiratory system
Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is the main reason for ICU admission following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Extracorporeal CO 2 removal (ECCO 2 R) can be used as an adjunct to mechanical ventilation in patients with severe hypercapnia but has not been assessed in HSCT recipients. Retrospective analysis of all allogeneic HSCT recipients ≥18 years treated with ECCO 2 R at two HSCT centers. 11 patients (m:f = 4:7, median age: 45 [IQR: 32‐58] years) were analyzed. Acute leukemia was the underlying hematologic malignancy in all patients. The time from HSCT to ICU admission was 37 [8‐79] months, and 9/11 (82%) suffered from chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) with lung involvement. Pneumonia was the most frequent reason for ventilatory decompensation ( n = 9). ECCO 2 R was initiated for severe hypercapnia (P a CO 2 : 96 [84‐115] mm Hg; pH: 7.13 [7.09‐7.27]) despite aggressive mechanical ventilation (invasive, n = 9; non‐invasive, n = 2). ECCO 2 R effectively resolved blood gas disturbances in all patients, but only 2/11 (18%) could be weaned off ventilatory support, and one (9%) patient survived hospital discharge. Progressive respiratory and multiorgan dysfunction were the main reasons for treatment failure. ECCO 2 R was technically feasible but resulted in a low survival rate in our cohort. A better understanding of the prognosis of ARF in patients with chronic GVHD and lung involvement is necessary before its use can be reconsidered in this setting.