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Background: The initial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) configuration is inefficient for patient oxygenation and flow, but by adding a Y-connector, a third or fourth cannula can be used to support the system, which is called hybrid ECMO. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study consisting of patients receiving hybrid and standard ECMO in our PICU between January 2014 and January 2022. Results: The median age of the 12 patients who received hybrid ECMO and were followed up with hybrid ECMO was 140 (range, 82-213) months. The total median ECMO duration of the patients who received hybrid ECMO was 23 (8-72) days, and the median follow-up time on hybrid ECMO was 18 (range, 3-46) days. The mean duration of follow-up in the PICU was 34 (range, 14-184) days. PICU length of stay was found to be statistically significant and was found to be longer in the hybrid ECMO group (p = 0.01). Eight (67%) patients died during follow-up with ECMO. Twenty-eight-day mortality was found to be statistically significant and was found to be higher in the standard ECMO group (p = 0.03). The hybrid ECMO mortality rate was 66% (decannulation from ECMO). The hybrid ECMO hospital mortality rate was 75%. The standard ECMO mortality rate was 52% (decannulation from ECMO). The standard ECMO hospital mortality rate was 65%. Conclusions: Even though hybrid ECMO use is rare, with increasing experience and new methods, more successful experience will be gained. Switching to hybrid ECMO from standard ECMO at the right time with the right technique can increase treatment success and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving treatment option providing cardiopulmonary support when standard therapies prove insufficient for reversible diseases. The mean objective of this study was to evaluate our center’s experience with ECMO following pediatric cardiac surgery. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between November 2014 and March 2021 and included patients who received ECMO following cardiac surgery. Results: Over the 7-year period, 324 patients underwent cardiac surgery, of which 24 (7.4%) required ECMO support. Among them, 13 (54.2%) were female, with a median age of 16.0 (2.0-208) months and a median weight of 7.0 (3.5-70) kg. The mean vasoactive inotrope score (VIS) was 53.9 ± 44.5. Atrioventricular septal defect repair was the most common surgical procedure (n = 8/24, 41.6%). The primary indication for ECMO was low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) in 14 (58.3%) patients. The median duration of ECMO support was 6.0 (1.0-46.0) days. Nonsurvivors had significantly higher Pediatric Risk Score of Mortality (PRISM) III scores (P = .014) and VIS scores during the pre-ECMO period (P = .004). Early or late neurological complications developed in 12 (50%) patients, with significant differences in lactate levels and pH levels pre-ECMO between those with and without neurological complications (P = .01, P = .02, respectively). We successfully decannulated 16 (66.6%) patients, with a final survival rate of 12 (50%). Conclusion: ECMO plays a crucial role in providing pre- and post-cardiac surgery support for children. LCOS remains the main indication, and high PRISM III and VIS scores are valuable predictors of outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scientific letter discusses the use of intravesical tranexamic acid (TXA) for severe macroscopic hematuria in a child with a biventricular assist device (BiVAD). Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is commonly used in children with end-stage heart failure, and bleeding is a common complication in these patients. Anticoagulant treatment can be interrupted and cystoscopic interventions performed for bleeding control, but the use of intravesical TXA in this patient group is not well-documented. The authors share their experience with intravesical TXA application in a 10-year-old girl with a BiVAD and receiving anticoagulant treatment, which successfully controlled her macroscopic hematuria. They suggest that intravesical TXA may be a useful option for managing severe macroscopic hematuria in patients who require anticoagulants. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a life-saving treatment for patients with circulatory and respiratory failure refractory to standard therapy. However, safe and timely patient transport to the referral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center is critical for better patient outcomes in patients with acute cardiogenic shock. This study aimed to describe children’s features who were transferred to our center under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation by aircraft/ground vehicle and demonstrated the importance of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for transported children. Materials and Methods: We report the first Turkish pediatric case series of patients with acute cardiogenic shock transported by aircraft and ground ambulances on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support to a referral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center between January 2016 and January 2021. Results: Overall, 6 patients on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support were transported by aircraft and ground vehicles to our pediatric intensive care unit. Transport was achieved by fixed-wing aircraft in 5 patients and commercial aircraft in 1. Our mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation team cannulated 3 patients, and 3 patients were cannulated by the team at the hospital they applied to. The median age was 112 (range: 14-204) months and the median weight was 28.6 kg (range: 8.6-57.2 kg). The etiology of acute cardiogenic shock was fulminant myocarditis in 4 patients, dilated cardiomyopathy in 1, and transposition of great arteries and atrial flutter in 1. The median distance of travel for the patients to our hospital was 618 (407-955) km. No adverse events were detected during aircraft or ground vehicle transport. Conclusion: Mobile pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation transport teams may provide safe aircraft and ground vehicle transportation in high-risk patients with acute cardiogenic shock bridging to survival or long-term circulatory support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]