Continuous Compartment Pressure Monitoring for Compartment Syndrome in VA-ECMO Patients

In addition to standard of care, the MY01 device will be inserted by an orthopedic surgeon into the leg on the same side as the ECMO tubing. This will occur within 6 hours of the start of ECMO. Insertion of the device involves a needle, which is removed once the device is inserted. Monitoring of the device will occur as described by the device manufacturer, which includes a mobile application. If at any time the compartment pressures suggest that there may be ACS, an orthopedic surgeon will be called to perform a physical exam. If the physical exam supports the diagnosis of ACS, then an additional pressure measurement with a needle may be also taken to confirm the measurement. If the diagnosis of ACS is made, the decision to proceed with surgery, or fasciotomy, will be a joint decision made by entire team. Monitoring of with the device will be done for 24 hours. The device will be removed after 24 hours or if the diagnosis of ACS is made.

For the 14-gauge slit catheter group, the exact same protocol will be followed as the MY01 group. The 14-gauge slit catheter consists of tubing that is 14-gauge in size, which is inserted into the leg with a needle. The needle will be removed once the tubing is inserted. The tubing is then connected to a monitor, which will display the pressure in the leg. Just like the MY01 group, the leg will be numbed and cleaned before the tube is inserted in the leg. Instead of the data being recorded on a mobile device, a nurse or nurse technician will document pressure readings every 4 hours for a total of 24 hours. Once monitoring is finished, the 14-gauge slit catheter will be removed from the leg.

If assigned to standard of care, the participant will undergo monitoring within 1 hour of the start of ECMO. For standard of care group, this will involve monitoring the leg with the ECMO tubing with physical exam every 4 hours for the first 24 hours. This will be performed by a trained nurse. If at any time there is suspicion for ACS, the physical exam will be verified by an orthopedic surgeon. The orthopedic surgeon will decide if pressure measurements will be necessary. If so, then a single pressure measurement from each compartment will be taken with a needle device. If the ACS diagnosis is made, any further monitoring of that leg is stopped. The decision to proceed with surgery, or fasciotomy, will be a joint decision made by entire team, which includes surgeons and medical doctors. This is currently the standard of care at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.