Influence of Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Integrated Hemoadsorption
on the Early Reversal of Multiorgan and Microcirculatory Dysfunction and Outcome of
Refractory Cardiogenic Shock
Background: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of venoarterial
extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA–ECMO) integrated hemoadsorption on the reversal
of multiorgan and microcirculatory dysfunction, and early mortality of refractory
cardiogenic shock patients. Methods: Propensity score–matched cohort study of 29 pairs
of patients. Subjects received either VA–ECMO supplemented with hemoadsorption or
standard VA–ECMO management. Results: There was a lower mean sequential organ failure
assessment score (p = 0.04), lactate concentration (p = 0.015), P(v–a)CO2 gap (p <
0.001), vasoactive inotropic score (p = 0.007), and reduced delta C–reactive protein
level (p = 0.005) in the hemoadsorption compared to control groups after 72 h. In–hospital
mortality was similar to the predictions in the control group (62.1%) and was much
lower than the predicted value in the hemoadsorption group (44.8%). There were less
ECMO-associated bleeding complications in the hemoadsorption group compared to controls
(p = 0.049). Overall, 90-day survival was better in the hemoadsorption group than
in controls without statistical significance. Conclusion: VA–ECMO integrated hemoadsorption
treatment was associated with accelerated recovery of multiorgan and microcirculatory
dysfunction, mitigated inflammatory response, less bleeding complications, and lower
risk for early mortality in comparison with controls.