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Routine Versus Selective Intraoperative ECMO in Lung Transplant

Randomized Trial of Routine Versus Selective Use of Intraoperative Extracorporeal Mechanical Support During Lung Transplantation : a Pilot Study

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05505422
Enrollment
28
Registered
2022-08-17
Start date
2022-09-15
Completion date
2023-12-15
Last updated
2024-08-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Extracorporeal Circulation; Complications, Lung Transplant; Complications, Postoperative Complications

Brief summary

Intraoperative hemodynamic management is vital in the success of lung transplantation. Significant intraoperative hemodynamic compromise and hypoxic episodes may contribute to an increase in severe postoperative complications related to hypoperfusion, including cerebrovascular accidents, acute kidney injury, and mesenteric ischemia. In certain lung transplant recipients, intraoperative cardiopulmonary support is mandatory because certain factors would make off-pump transplants unsafe. These include severe pulmonary hypertension or severe ventricular dysfunction. In such patients, routine intraoperative support should be employed. However, it is possible to conduct the lung transplant without cardiopulmonary support in the remainder of patients who do not have severe pulmonary hypertension or right heart dysfunction. In such patients, the lung transplant may be started without cardiopulmonary support. However, cardiopulmonary support may be initiated on-demand if there is development or impending hemodynamic embarrassment or hypoxia. Conversely, the opposite approach would be to routinely conduct all lung transplant operations using cardiopulmonary support, which may also lead to specific ECMO-related complications. The investigators question whether on demand intraoperative ECMO in patients with significant risk factors will produce severe postoperative complications in a rate similar to routine ECMO.

Detailed description

Hypothesis: In patients where cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) / ECMO is not mandatory, on-demand use of intra-operative ECMO is equivalent to routine use for patients undergoing lung transplant. The study will be a prospective, randomized controlled trial. The investigators seek to compare outcomes of two different strategies of cardiopulmonary support during lung transplantation; routine support with ECMO versus selective (on-demand), indication- based support with ECMO. The allocation ratio will be 1:1. A multi-center trial is necessary to allow for a sufficient sample size. However, the investigators believe a pilot study is essential to determine feasibility before embarking on such a significant undertaking. In this preliminary pilot study, recruitment will be limited to lung transplant patients at the Centre hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal (CHUM). The primary purpose of the pilot study will be to define recruitment ability and assess the feasibility of conducting the study. Depending on the results of this pilot study, the next step would be to expand the study to multiple lung transplant centers to achieve an adequate sample size and power, allowing the investigators to answer the question of interest.

Interventions

Routine ECMO during lung tansplant

DEVICEOn demand ECMO

Selective, indication-based intraoperative cardiopulmonary support. In this group, the transplant will be planned without cardiopulmonary support. intraoperative ECMO will be used selectively based on hemodynamic and/or gas exchange abnormalities : 1. Inability to maintain adequate hemodynamics and stable perfusion or oxygenation during surgery 2. Prolonged high dose pressor required to maintain adequate perfusion 3. A sustained drop in cerebral saturation \> 25% of baseline despite initial attempts at optimization 4. Inability to tolerate pulmonary artery clamping 5. Inadequate gas exchange despite attempts at the optimization of ventilator parameters and treatments related to respiratory mechanics and ventilation/perfusion matching 6. Inadequate exposure to the surgical field

Sponsors

Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Patients undergoing lung transplant surgery during the study period (6 months)

Exclusion criteria

1. Inability to provide consent for the study or patient refusal 2. Retransplantation 3. Multi-organ transplantation 4. Lung transplant recipients where intraoperative support is mandatory and off- pump transplant would be unsafe: a. Severe pulmonary hypertension (PH): i. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) ≥ 80 mm Hg on echocardiography, right heart catheterization, or pulmonary artery catheter measurement ii. Mean PAP ≥ 55 mm Hg on echocardiography, right heart catheterization, or pulmonary artery catheter measurement iii. The ratio of mean pulmonary to systemic artery pressure of more than 0.66 b. Moderate to severe right ventricular (RV) hypokinesis or dysfunction c. Left ventricular dysfunction: Defined as ejection fraction (LVEF) \< 50% on echocardiography, ventriculography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) d. Significant coronary artery disease (CAD)requiring stenting or surgical grafting

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Study recruitment rate6 months after the onset of study

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
The composite incidence of death, disabling stroke, grade 2 or 3 primary graft dysfunction at 72 hours, major bleeding (BARC grade 3a, 3b or 5), vascular complications, or stage II or III acute kidney injury at 14 days.14 days
Incidence of all-cause mortality at 30 days, 90 days, and one year1 year
Percentage of patients loss to follow-up1 year
Incidence of an Early major postoperative neurologic complication (EMPNC): This includes stroke, severe encephalopathy, and severe seizures diagnosed within 14 days after surgery.14 days
Incidence of severe postoperative complications. This is defined as Clavien-Dindo grade III complication or greater14 days
Incidence of postoperative stroke / cerebrovascular accident14 days

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of postoperative tracheostomy21 days
Incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) within 14 days. The definition of AKI is based on Kidney Disease; improving global outcomes (KDIGO) classification14 days
Incidence of vascular complications14 days
Incidence and grade of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hoursFrom the end of surgery up to 72 hours after surgery
Incidence of stroke1 year
Incidence of acute rejection episodes1 year
Forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) at 1 year1 year
Incidence of postoperative bleeding complications. The definition of bleeding complication is based on Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) classification14 days after surgery
Intraoperative blood product transfusion requirementsFrom the beginning of surgery to transfer to the intensive care unit
Perioperative blood product transfusion requirements14 daysFrom the beginning of surgery to 14 days after surgery, including return to the operating room for subsequent surgeries
Intensive care unit and hospital length of stay in daysBeginning from the arrival to the intensive care unit immediately after surgery
Duration of mechanical ventilation in hoursBeginning from the arrival to the intensive care unit immediately after surgery, up to about 30 daysBiPAP and CPAP are not considered mechanical ventilation. Tracheostomy is not considered mechanical ventilation if a ventilator is not needed.
Incidence of re-intubation14 days

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026