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Physiology of Unloading VA ECMO Trial

Physiology of Unloading VA ECMO Trial

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06336655
Enrollment
104
Registered
2024-03-29
Start date
2024-10-02
Completion date
2029-02-01
Last updated
2026-04-30

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

Conditions

Cardiogenic Shock

Keywords

cardiogenic shock, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, left ventricular unloading

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the use of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) with and without left ventricular (LV) unloading in patients being treated for cardiogenic shock (CS). The main aims of the study are: 1. To determine the physiologic effects on cardiopulmonary congestion of adding LV unloading to VA ECMO 2. To determine the effects on myocardial function of adding LV unloading to ECMO 3. To test the effects on myocardial recovery of adding LV unloading to VA ECMO Participants who are being treated with VA ECMO will be randomized to receive or not receive LV unloading in the form of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). Over the course of the study, the investigators will obtain measurements via lab work, echocardiography, and pulmonary artery catheter that will allow comparison of the two groups.

Detailed description

Although extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for cardiogenic shock (CS) is used in over 3,000 patients per year, the best management strategies are not known. Identifying and improving treatment of CS is critically important, as CS occurs in 160,000 patients per year in the US with a 50% mortality rate. VA ECMO is an increasingly used method of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for patients with CS refractory to medical therapy. Despite the benefit of full cardiopulmonary support ECMO is also thought to increase after load in the failing heart- which paradoxically reduces cardiac output and may lead to myocardial injury and cardiac congestion. A potential solution is to add a device to VA ECMO that decreases after-load - known as left ventricular (LV) unloading. LV unloading can be achieved with different approaches, directly with transvalvular pumps (known as a peripheral ventricular assist device (pVAD)), or indirectly with an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) Preliminary data suggests that unloading the LV is associated with improved survival. Results from a cohort of VA ECMO patients with medical CS, showed a hospital survival benefit LV unloading (aOR 0.87 (0.79, 094); p=0.001). Data has also shown that the survival benefit of LV unloading was much larger with pVAD (HR 0.6), but with higher complications, including limb ischemia - a potentially catastrophic complication. However, results also show that different unloading approaches have different physiologic effects on the myocardium and on peripheral perfusion - highlighting the uncomfortable observation that it is not known how (physiologically) these unloading devices lead to changes in survival. There are two potential pathways whereby LV unloading could influence survival, including myocardial effects (distension, injury, ejection fraction ) and peripheral effects (peripheral pulse pressure, lactate clearance, CO2 gap). Determining the physiologic effects from LV unloading according to device type and patient etiology will allow us to match the intervention with the patient's physiology. Data suggests that ECMO patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have different mortality and different physiologic changes than patients with decompensated chronic heart failure (CHF) when unloaded. The ultimate goal is to reduce morbidity and mortality in cardiogenic shock. This study will define the physiologic benefit of LV unloading during CS.

Interventions

DEVICEIABP

LV unloading via intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)

Sponsors

University of Utah
Lead SponsorOTHER
University of Minnesota
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Adult patients (age 18 years or older) * Diagnosis of acute cardiogenic shock (CS) * Patients failing medical therapy, defined as 1 or more of the following: 1. Society for Coronary Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) Stage C or greater 2. 2 or more inotropic medications and not improving 3. IABP in place and clinically worsening 4. Placed on VA ECMO for CS 5. In the opinion of the attending physician, patient has worsening CS and could require VA ECMO support in the near-term

Exclusion criteria

* Metastatic or stage 4 cancer * Atrial septostomy * Planned LV unloading on ECMO * Anticipated death \<72 hours * Existing durable left ventricular assist device (dLVAD) * Unwillingness to randomize * Patients who are pregnant

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in pulmonary capillary wedge pressureECMO start, ECMO day 5, ECMO decannulation up to 3 months, day of ICU discharge up to 6 monthsChange in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) from ECMO start to ECMO day 5 (Day 5 - Baseline) with and without LV unloading

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in pulmonary artery diastolic pressureECMO start, ECMO days 1-5, ECMO decannulation up to 3 months, day of ICU discharge up to 6 monthsChange in pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PADP) from ECMO start to ECMO day 5 (Day 5 - baseline) with and without LV unloading
Change in left ventricular end diastolic diameterECMO start, ECMO day 5, ECMO decannulation up to 3 months, day of ICU discharge up to 6 monthsChange in left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDd) from ECMO start to ECMO day 5 (Day 5 - baseline) with and without LV unloading
Change in N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptideECMO start, ECMO days 1-5, ECMO decannulation up to 3 months, day of ICU discharge up to 6 monthsChange in N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) from ECMO start to ECMO day 5 (Day 5 - baseline) with and without LV unloading
Hemodynamic stabilityECMO start, ECMO day 5Hemodynamic stability (defined as a change in mean arterial pressure \[MAP\] from prior to turn down until 2 minutes of wean) at ECMO day 5 with and without LV unloading
Global cardiovascular functionECMO start, ECMO days 1-5Global cardiovascular function is defined as arterial pulse pressure during the protocoled wean. To assess this outcome, the investigators will calculate the change in pulse pressure from prior to wean to 2 minutes during wean.
Difference in partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2)ECMO start, q12 hours ECMO days 1-3, ECMO decannulation up to 3 months, day of ICU discharge up to 6 monthsAs part of assessing global cardiovascular function, the investigators will measure, via lab draw, pCO2, which is the difference in CO2 between arterial and central venous blood. This is a marker of peripheral perfusion.
LactateECMO start, ECMO days 1-5, ECMO decannulation up to 3 months, day of ICU discharge up to 6 monthsAs part of assessing global cardiovascular function, the investigators will measure, via lab draw, arterial lactate. This is a marker of peripheral perfusion.
Cardiac BIN1ECMO start, ECMO day 5, day of ICU discharge up to 6 monthsChange in Cardiac BIN1 (cBIN1) serum level from Baseline to Day 5 (Day 5 - Baseline). cBIN1is a validated marker of myocardial recovery in heart failure.
Troponin IECMO start, ECMO days 1-5, ECMO decannulation up to 3 months, day of ICU discharge up to 6 monthsChange in troponin I from ECMO start to ECMO day 5 (Day 5 - Baseline)
Tumor necrosis factor alphaECMO start, ECMO day 5, ECMO decannulation up to 3 months, day of ICU discharge up to 6 monthsChange in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) from ECMO start to ECMO day 5 (Day 5 - Baseline)
Ejection fraction percentageECMO start, ECMO day 5, ECMO decannulation up to 3 months, day of ICU discharge up to 6 monthsAssessment of heart function via echocardiography
Interferon gammaECMO start, ECMO day 5, ECMO decannulation up to 3 months, day of ICU discharge up to 6 monthsPredictor of myocardial recovery assessed from baseline through ICU discharge
Limb ischemiaRandomization, 48 hours post-device removalIschemia in the ipsilateral limb as the IABP will be tracked from baseline until 48 hours after the intervention is removed.
MortalityHospital discharge up to 6 monthsAssessment of patient mortality status at hospital discharge

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 1, 2026