Extracorporeal CO2 Removal in Hypercapnic Patients

Extracorporeal CO2 Removal in Hypercapnic Patients Who Failed Noninvasive Ventilation and Refuse Endotracheal Intubation: a Case Series

Noninvasive ventilation represents the standard of care for patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, NIV fails in almost 30% of the most severe forms of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure and patients must undergo endotracheal intubation and invasive ventilation to restore adequate gas exchange. Under these circumstances, patients may express a clear intention not to be intubated.The aim of this study is to retrospectively assess efficacy and safety of noninvasive ventilation- plus-extracorporeal Co2 removal in patients who fail NIV and refuse endotracheal intubation.

During a period of two years (from January 2013 to July 2015) 35 patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure due to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, refused endotracheal intubation after failing NIV and were treated with extracorporeal Co2 removal plus NIV as last resort therapy. The collected data of these patients will be retrospectively matched with data obtained from 35 historical controls who received conventional treatment with endotracheal intubation. The study will retrospectively compare intubation rate, acid base homeostasis, norepinephrine requirements (in the patients who due to clinical conditions were under norepinephrine before starting extracorporeal Co2 removal ) and coagulation parameters.

patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure due to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, refused endotracheal intubation after failing NIV and were treated withLow flow etracorporeal CO2 removal

norepinephrine requirements in the patients who due to clinical conditions were under norepinephrine before starting the treatment with extracorporeal Co2 removal

Inclusion Criteria: exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease failure of non invasive ventilation expression of a clear intention not to be intubated Exclusion Criteria: alterations in mental status which do not allow to express a clear intention not to be intubated contraindications to anticoagulation

Burki NK, Mani RK, Herth FJF, Schmidt W, Teschler H, Bonin F, Becker H, Randerath WJ, Stieglitz S, Hagmeyer L, Priegnitz C, Pfeifer M, Blaas SH, Putensen C, Theuerkauf N, Quintel M, Moerer O. A novel extracorporeal CO(2) removal system: results of a pilot study of hypercapnic respiratory failure in patients with COPD. Chest. 2013 Mar;143(3):678-686. doi: 10.1378/chest.12-0228.

Del Sorbo L, Pisani L, Filippini C, Fanelli V, Fasano L, Terragni P, Dell'Amore A, Urbino R, Mascia L, Evangelista A, Antro C, D'Amato R, Sucre MJ, Simonetti U, Persico P, Nava S, Ranieri VM. Extracorporeal Co2 removal in hypercapnic patients at risk of noninvasive ventilation failure: a matched cohort study with historical control. Crit Care Med. 2015 Jan;43(1):120-7. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000000607.