Single-center experience of temporary-permanent pacemaker use in COVID-19 patients supported with veno-venous ECMO: A case series

• Published in: Perfusion Vol. 39; no. 2; p. 382
• Main Authors: Frederiks, Pascal, Bianchi, Paolo, Hunnybun, Daniel, Behar, Jonathan, Garfield, Ben, Ledot, Stéphane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.03.2024
• Subjects: COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - therapy; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Humans; Pacemaker, Artificial; Pandemics; Respiratory Distress Syndrome - therapy; COVID-19; sinus node disease; externalized temporary-permanent pacemakers; veno-venous ECMO
• ISSN: 1477-111X
• DOI: 10.1177/02676591221144905

In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, nine out of 129 patients (7%) developed life-threatening bradycardia episodes ultimately requiring a TPPM, whilst being supported with VV-ECMO for severe COVID-19 ARDS in our tertiary cardio-pulmonary failure center. All subjects had asystole due to sinus node dysfunction and experienced at least one episode involving cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Most bradycardic events were seen in the context of vagal hypersensitivity. Mean time from general ICU admission to TPPM insertion was 20.6 ± 8.9 days. One patient developed a large chest wall hematoma weeks after TPPM implantation, no other TPPM-related issues were observed. No patient required a long-term pacing system. Six-months survival rate was high (89%). These findings suggested that transient life-threatening sinus node disease is not uncommon in ECMO-dependent COVID-19 ARDS patients. TPPM with an active fixation lead is sometimes needed to facilitate ongoing ICU care, however, long-term permanent pacing was not required.