Browsing by Author "Innerhofer, Nicole (55880894100)"

Objective: The initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) triggers complex coagulation processes necessitating systemic anticoagulation. Therefore, anticoagulation monitoring is crucial to avoid adverse events such as thrombosis and hemorrhage. The main aim of this work was to analyze the association between anti-Xa levels and thrombosis occurrence during ECMO support. Design: Systematic literature review and meta-analysis (Scopus and PubMed, up to July 29, 2023). Setting: All retrospective and prospective studies. Participants: Patients receiving ECMO support. Intervention: Anticoagulation monitoring during ECMO support. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 16 articles with 1,968 patients were included in the review and 7 studies in the meta-analysis (n = 374). Patients with thrombosis had significantly lower mean anti-Xa values (standardized mean difference -0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.62 to -0.11, p < 0.01). Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between unfractionated heparin infusion and anti-Xa levels (pooled estimate of correlation coefficients 0.31, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.43, p < 0.001). The most common adverse events were major bleeding (42%) and any kind of hemorrhage (36%), followed by thromboembolic events (30%) and circuit or oxygenator membrane thrombosis (19%). More than half of the patients did not survive to discharge (52%). Conclusions: This work revealed significantly lower levels of anti-Xa in patients experiencing thromboembolic events and a positive correlation between anti-Xa and unfractionated heparin infusion. Considering the contemplative limitations of conventional monitoring tools, further research on the role of anti-Xa is warranted. New trials should be encouraged to confirm these findings and determine the most suitable monitoring strategy for patients receiving ECMO support. © 2024 The Author(s)

Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) requires systemic anticoagulation to reduce the risk of thromboembolic events. Despite its historic role, activated clotting time (ACT) remains a widely used heparin monitoring method. Systematic evidence on the association of ACT-guided monitoring with hemorrhagic or thromboembolic complications does not exist. Design: Systematic literature review and meta-analysis (Scopus and PubMed, July 2023). Setting: All cohort studies. Participants: Patients receiving ECMO support. Intervention: Anticoagulation monitoring with ACT. Measurements and Main Results: We identified 3,177 publications, with 8 studies reporting the average ACT values for patients with and without bleeding. Meta-analysis revealed no significant difference in the compared groups (SMD = 0.69; 95% CI −0.05 to 1.43, p = 0.069; I2 = 87.4%). Three studies (n = 117 patients) reported on the average ACT values for patients with thrombosis, without significant differences in ACT between patients with and without thrombosis (SMD = 0.47; 95% CI −0.50 to 1.44, p = 0.342; I2 = 81.1%). Conclusions: Even though ACT is a widely used heparin monitoring tool, the evidence on its association with hemorrhagic or thromboembolic events is still controversial and limited. Further studies are essential to elucidate the role of ACT in anticoagulation monitoring during ECMO support. © 2024 The Author(s)

Background: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is associated with complex hemostatic changes. Systemic anticoagulation is initiated to prevent clotting in the ECMO system, but this comes with an increased risk of bleeding. Evidence on the use of anti-Xa-guided monitoring to prevent bleeding during ECMO support is limited. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the association between anti-factor Xa-guided anticoagulation and hemorrhage during ECMO. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed (up to August 2023). PROSPERO: CRD42023448888. Results: Twenty-six studies comprising 2293 patients were included in the analysis, with six works being part of the meta-analysis. The mean anti-Xa values did not show a significant difference between patients with and without hemorrhage (standardized mean difference −0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.19; 0.28, p =.69). We found a positive correlation between anti-Xa levels and unfractionated heparin dose (UFH; pooled estimate of correlation coefficients 0.44; 95% CI: 0.33; 0.55, p <.001). The most frequent complications were any type of hemorrhage (pooled 36%) and thrombosis (33%). Nearly half of the critically ill patients did not survive to hospital discharge (47%). Conclusions: The most appropriate tool for anticoagulation monitoring in ECMO patients is uncertain. Our analysis did not reveal a significant difference in anti-Xa levels in patients with and without hemorrhagic events. However, we found a moderate correlation between anti-Xa and the UFH dose, supporting its utilization in monitoring UFH anticoagulation. Given the limitations of time-guided monitoring methods, the role of anti-Xa is promising and further research is warranted. © 2024 The Authors. Clinical Cardiology published by Wiley Periodicals, LLC.

Background: The initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is associated with complex inflammatory and coagulatory processes, raising the need for systemic anticoagulation. The balance of anticoagulatory and procoagulant factors is essential, as therapeutic anticoagulation confers a further risk of potentially life-threatening bleeding. Therefore, our study aims to systematize and analyze the most recent evidence regarding anticoagulation monitoring and the thromboembolic events in patients receiving veno-arterial ECMO support. Methods: Using the PRISMA guidelines, we systematically searched the Scopus and PubMed databases up to October 2022. A weighted effects model was employed for the meta-analytic portion of the study. Results: Six studies comprising 1728 patients were included in the final analysis. Unfractionated heparin was used for anticoagulation, with an activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) monitoring goal set between 45 and 80 s. The majority of studies aimed to investigate the incidence of adverse events and potential risk factors for thromboembolic and bleeding events. None of the authors found any association of aPTT levels with the occurrence of thromboembolic events. Finally, the most frequent adverse events were hemorrhage (pooled 43%, 95% CI 28.4; 59.5) and any kind of thrombosis (pooled 36%, 95% CI 21.7; 53.7), and more than one-half of patients did not survive to discharge (pooled 54%). Conclusions: Despite the tremendous development of critical care, aPTT-guided systemic anticoagulation is still the standard monitoring tool. We did not find any association of aPTT levels with thrombosis. Further evidence and new trials should clarify the true incidence of thromboembolic events, along with the best anticoagulation and monitoring strategy in veno-arterial ECMO patients. © 2023 by the authors.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common opportunistic infection that occurs following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). In addition to the direct infection-related symptoms, it also triggers an immunological response that may contribute to adverse clinical outcomes. CMV disease has been described as a predictor of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) but its role under an antiviral prophylaxis regimen is unclear. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 214 adult liver transplant recipients (LTRs). Universal antiviral prophylaxis was utilized in recipients with CMV mismatch; intermediate- and low-risk patients received pre-emptive treatment. Results: Six percent of patients developed CMV disease independent of their serostatus. The occurrence of CMV disease was associated with elevated virus load and increased incidence of leucopenia and IFIs. Furthermore, CMV disease was associated with higher one-year mortality and increased relapse rates within the first year of OLT. Conclusions: CMV disease causes significant morbidity and mortality in LTRs, directly affecting transplant outcomes. Due to the increased risk of IFIs, antifungal prophylaxis for CMV disease may be appropriate. Postoperative CMV monitoring should be considered after massive transfusion, even in low-risk serostatus constellations. In case of biliary complications, biliary CMV monitoring may be appropriate in the case of CMV-DNA blood-negative patients. © 2023 by the authors.

Background: Liver transplantation is a standard of care and a life-saving procedure for end-stage liver diseases and certain malignancies. The evidence on predictors and risk factors for poor outcomes is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to identify potential risk factors for mortality and to report on overall 90-day mortality after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), especially focusing on the role of fungal infections. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of all patients undergoing OLT at a tertiary university center in Europe. Results: From 299 patients, 214 adult patients who received a first-time OLT were included. The OLT indication was mainly due to tumors (42%, 89/214) and cirrhosis (32%, 68/214), including acute liver failure in 4.7% (10/214) of patients. In total, 8% (17/214) of patients died within the first three months, with a median time to death of 15 (1–80) days. Despite a targeted antimycotic prophylaxis using echinocandins, invasive fungal infections occurred in 12% (26/214) of the patients. In the multivariate analysis, patients with invasive fungal infections had an almost five times higher chance of death (HR 4.6, 95% CI 1.1–18.8; p = 0.032). Conclusions: Short-term mortality after OLT is mainly determined by infectious and procedural complications. Fungal breakthrough infections are becoming a growing concern. Procedural, host, and fungal factors can contribute to a failure of prophylaxis. Finally, invasive fungal infections may be a potentially modifiable risk factor, but the ideal perioperative antimycotic prophylaxis has yet to be determined. © 2023 by the authors.

Background: Liver transplantation is a standard of care and a life-saving procedure for end-stage liver diseases and certain malignancies. The evidence on predictors and risk factors for poor outcomes is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to identify potential risk factors for mortality and to report on overall 90-day mortality after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), especially focusing on the role of fungal infections. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of all patients undergoing OLT at a tertiary university center in Europe. Results: From 299 patients, 214 adult patients who received a first-time OLT were included. The OLT indication was mainly due to tumors (42%, 89/214) and cirrhosis (32%, 68/214), including acute liver failure in 4.7% (10/214) of patients. In total, 8% (17/214) of patients died within the first three months, with a median time to death of 15 (1–80) days. Despite a targeted antimycotic prophylaxis using echinocandins, invasive fungal infections occurred in 12% (26/214) of the patients. In the multivariate analysis, patients with invasive fungal infections had an almost five times higher chance of death (HR 4.6, 95% CI 1.1–18.8; p = 0.032). Conclusions: Short-term mortality after OLT is mainly determined by infectious and procedural complications. Fungal breakthrough infections are becoming a growing concern. Procedural, host, and fungal factors can contribute to a failure of prophylaxis. Finally, invasive fungal infections may be a potentially modifiable risk factor, but the ideal perioperative antimycotic prophylaxis has yet to be determined. © 2023 by the authors.