Hemodynamic Monitoring and Fluid Responsiveness in Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA ECMO) - "HemodynamECMOnitoring-VA Study"

NCT ID: NCT06593756

Last Updated: 2025-09-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-05-03
• Study Completion Date: 2027-01-31

Brief Summary

In extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), blood is drawn out of the body via tubes, oxygenated in an artificial lung; and then pumped back into the blood vessels. This allows the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the organs (brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, intestines, etc.) to be maintained. Continuous monitoring of cardiac function and circulatory status (blood pressure, blood flow to organs) is very important in intensive care medicine in order to control the administration of circulation-supporting medication and infusions. Various devices are routinely used for this task. However, in the specific situation of ECMO treatment, the measurements of these devices could be affected due to the artificial circulation; outside the body. The purpose of this study is therefore to test the accuracy of different methods of circulation monitoring during ECMO treatment.

Detailed Description

Hemodynamic monitoring and tests for fluid responsiveness are cornerstones of intensive care medicine. Generally, hemodynamic measurements can be obtained, for instance, with the following methods: pulmonary artery catheter, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), esophageal doppler, transpulmonary thermodilution, pulse contour analysis and bioreactance, amongst others. Maneuvers for assessing volume responsiveness include passive leg raising (PLR), respiratory pulse pressure variation (PPV), stroke volume variation (SVV), inferior vena cava ultrasound (IVC), and end-inspiratory or end-expiratory occlusion tests. While these commonly used methods of hemodynamic assessment have been validated in various clinical scenarios, data are lacking in the setting of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO). VA ECMO is commonly used for circulatory support in patients with severe hemodynamic failure or cardiac arrest. Blood is most commonly drained from a femoral vein, pumped through an oxygenator, where it is oxygenated and decarboxylated, and thereafter reinfused into the patient via an arterial, most commonly femoral, return cannula. Theoretically, the artificial circulation with its blood drainage and return flows may interfere with common hemodynamic monitoring techniques and lead to erroneous measurements. The aim of this study therefore is to validate select techniques of hemodynamic monitoring and assessment of fluid responsiveness in patients on VA ECMO. In the context of this study, the performance of different hemodynamic monitoring tools and techniques for predicting fluid responsiveness will be compared.

Conditions

ECMO Treatment; ARDS; Pneumonia; Intensive Care; Hemodynamic Monitoring; Fluid Responsiveness

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Entire Study Population

The entire study population will undergo serial hemodynamic assessments throughout the course of ECMO therapy. Hemodynamic variables are obtained using transthoracic echocardiography, uncalibrated pulse contour analysis, and optionally - depending on device availability - transpulmonary thermodilution, bioreactance and esophageal doppler. Maneuvers for assessing volume responsiveness include passive leg raising (PLR), respiratory pulse pressure variation (PPV), stroke volume variation (SVV), inferior vena cava ultrasound (IVC), and end-inspiratory or end-expiratory occlusion tests.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Transthoracic Echocardiography

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is used for intermittent non-invasive stroke volume (SV) measurements. It is calculated by multiplication of left ventricular out flow tract (LVOT) and LVOT velocity time integral (VTI), obtained in a parasternal long axis view and apical five chamber view, respectively.

Uncalibrated Pulse Contour Analysis

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Pulse Contour Analysis allows an automated and continuous measurement of stroke volume (SV). Its underlying principle is that the integral of the systolic arterial pressure curve directly correlates with stroke volume.

Transpulmonary Thermodilution/Calibrated Pulse Contour Analysis

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) involves the administration of a cold saline bolus into a central venous catheter. A special thermistor catheter placed in the femoral or brachial artery detects the successive changes in blood temperature. The resulting heat dissipation curve is analyzed to estimate stroke volume, cardiac output and other hemodynamic variables such as intrathoracic thermal volume (ITTV), pulmonary thermal volume (PTV), global end-diastolic volume (GEDV), intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV) and extravascular lung water (EVLW). Intermittent TPTD-derived cardiac output measurements (typically performed 1-3x/d) are used to calibrate pulse contour analysis.

Esophageal Doppler

Intervention Type: DEVICE

In esophageal Doppler, a thin ultrasound probe, coated with aqueous ultrasound gel, is orally or nasally inserted into the esophagus and orientated towards the aorta. By emission and detection of continuous wave Doppler signals, real time spectral waveforms of red blood cell velocity in the aorta are obtained, from which cardiac indices can be derived.

Bioreactance

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Bioreactance is a noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring technique, in which four double electrode sensors are placed on the skin of the chest. A high frequency sine wave is transmitted across the thorax. Pulsatile flow in the aorta causes phase shifts and amplitude changes of this signal, which are measured across the different electrodes and used to compute cardiac output.

Passive Leg Raising

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Passive Leg Raising (PLR) is a maneuver that mimics a fluid challenge by shifting about 300 ml of venous blood from the lower body to the heart. Thereby, it can help to predict fluid responsiveness without actual fluid infusion. To start with, the patient is placed in a semi-recumbent position. Then, the bed is adjusted so that the patient's torso is moved to a horizontal position and the lower limbs are raised to an angle of 45°. Hemodynamic effects occur and can be measured within one minute.

Vena Cava Ultrasound

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Ultrasound has become a popular technique for assessing volume status. IVC diameter is measured in a subcostal long-axis IVC view 1-2 cm from the junction with the right atrium. The magnitude of distensibility during mechanical ventilation cycles or collapsibility during spontaneous breathing has been proposed to correlate with fluid responsiveness

End-expiratory /-inspiratory occlusion test

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

In preload-dependent patients, mechanical ventilation induces periodic changes in cardiac output. Standardized maneuvers of end-expiratory or end-inspiratory interruption over 15 seconds may increase or decrease stroke volume, respectively, which is a valid predictor of fluid responsiveness

Fluid bolus

Intervention Type: DRUG

To verify fluid responsiveness, 500 ml of balanced crystalloids will be infused over a time of 15-20 min (25-33.33 ml/min) after completion of passive leg raising and restoration of baseline patient positioning

Interventions

Transthoracic Echocardiography

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is used for intermittent non-invasive stroke volume (SV) measurements. It is calculated by multiplication of left ventricular out flow tract (LVOT) and LVOT velocity time integral (VTI), obtained in a parasternal long axis view and apical five chamber view, respectively.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Uncalibrated Pulse Contour Analysis

Pulse Contour Analysis allows an automated and continuous measurement of stroke volume (SV). Its underlying principle is that the integral of the systolic arterial pressure curve directly correlates with stroke volume.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Transpulmonary Thermodilution/Calibrated Pulse Contour Analysis

Transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) involves the administration of a cold saline bolus into a central venous catheter. A special thermistor catheter placed in the femoral or brachial artery detects the successive changes in blood temperature. The resulting heat dissipation curve is analyzed to estimate stroke volume, cardiac output and other hemodynamic variables such as intrathoracic thermal volume (ITTV), pulmonary thermal volume (PTV), global end-diastolic volume (GEDV), intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV) and extravascular lung water (EVLW). Intermittent TPTD-derived cardiac output measurements (typically performed 1-3x/d) are used to calibrate pulse contour analysis.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Esophageal Doppler

In esophageal Doppler, a thin ultrasound probe, coated with aqueous ultrasound gel, is orally or nasally inserted into the esophagus and orientated towards the aorta. By emission and detection of continuous wave Doppler signals, real time spectral waveforms of red blood cell velocity in the aorta are obtained, from which cardiac indices can be derived.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Bioreactance

Bioreactance is a noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring technique, in which four double electrode sensors are placed on the skin of the chest. A high frequency sine wave is transmitted across the thorax. Pulsatile flow in the aorta causes phase shifts and amplitude changes of this signal, which are measured across the different electrodes and used to compute cardiac output.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Passive Leg Raising

Passive Leg Raising (PLR) is a maneuver that mimics a fluid challenge by shifting about 300 ml of venous blood from the lower body to the heart. Thereby, it can help to predict fluid responsiveness without actual fluid infusion. To start with, the patient is placed in a semi-recumbent position. Then, the bed is adjusted so that the patient's torso is moved to a horizontal position and the lower limbs are raised to an angle of 45°. Hemodynamic effects occur and can be measured within one minute.

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Vena Cava Ultrasound

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Ultrasound has become a popular technique for assessing volume status. IVC diameter is measured in a subcostal long-axis IVC view 1-2 cm from the junction with the right atrium. The magnitude of distensibility during mechanical ventilation cycles or collapsibility during spontaneous breathing has been proposed to correlate with fluid responsiveness

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

End-expiratory /-inspiratory occlusion test

In preload-dependent patients, mechanical ventilation induces periodic changes in cardiac output. Standardized maneuvers of end-expiratory or end-inspiratory interruption over 15 seconds may increase or decrease stroke volume, respectively, which is a valid predictor of fluid responsiveness

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Fluid bolus

To verify fluid responsiveness, 500 ml of balanced crystalloids will be infused over a time of 15-20 min (25-33.33 ml/min) after completion of passive leg raising and restoration of baseline patient positioning

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Patient receiving VA ECMO support
• Age 18 - 75 years

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnancy
• Conditions not allowing for passive leg raising maneuvers, e.g. "open abdomen", known or suspected elevation of intracranial pressure, recent leg or spinal trauma or orthopedic conditions not permitting leg raising
• Known ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke within 3 months prior to study enrollment.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 75 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Medical University of Vienna

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Thomas Staudinger

Univ.-Prof. Dr.

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Medical University of Vienna

Vienna, , Austria

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Austria

Central Contacts

Bernhard Nagler, MD

Role: CONTACT

bernhard.nagler@meduniwien.ac.at

+4314040044920

Thomas Staudinger, MD

Role: CONTACT

thomas.staudinger@meduniwien.ac.at

+4314040044920

Facility Contacts

Thomas Staudinger, MD

Role: primary

thomas.staudinger@meduniwien.ac.at

+4314040044920

Bernhard Nagler, MD

Role: backup

bernhard.nagler@meduniwien.ac.at

+4314040044920

Other Identifiers

1613/2023

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id