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When the unexpected happens: intracardiac ECMO venous cannula kinking.
  • +9
  • Alessandra Mayer,
  • Francesco Macchini,
  • Genny Raffaeli,
  • Stefano Ghirardello,
  • Federico Schena,
  • Ilaria Amodeo,
  • Lucia Mauri,
  • Chiara Baracetti,
  • Valeria Parente,
  • Cristina Carro,
  • Fabio Mosca,
  • Giacomo Cavallaro
Alessandra Mayer
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Francesco Macchini
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
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Genny Raffaeli
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
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Stefano Ghirardello
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
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Federico Schena
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
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Ilaria Amodeo
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
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Lucia Mauri
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
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Chiara Baracetti
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
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Valeria Parente
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
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Cristina Carro
GOM-Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda
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Fabio Mosca
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
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Giacomo Cavallaro
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
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Abstract

A term newborn with a right-sided CDH and severe pulmonary hypertension with systemic hypotension required veno-arterial ECMO. Despite appropriate cannulas size, high drainage pressure exceeding 60 mmHg was needed to maintain an ECMO flow at 120 ml/kg/min. Pericardial tamponade and misplacement of the venous cannula within the azygos vein were detected. Open thorax surgery was performed, and the cannula was repositioned. Postoperative X-rays showed an anomalous tip position of the cannula, suggesting the kinking inside the right atrium (Fig. 1). Reintervention was needed to restore the cannula. Cannula problems complicate about 12.8% of all neonatal respiratory ECMO. Both cannula malposition and kinking can affect the proper functioning of the ECMO support, and they should be carefully ruled out anytime suboptimal venous drainage and insufficient ECMO flow are experienced. Nevertheless, their diagnosis can be challenging, and both X-ray and echocardiography are essential tools. In particular, incidental azygos vein cannulation represents a possible rare ECMO complication in right-sided CDH and should always be kept in mind in this specific population. The decision to reposition or replace the cannula is mandatory, although not risk-free, in case of inadequate venous drainage or case of possible cardiac or vessel perforation.