title: (13) C Breath Tests Are Feasible in Patients With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Devices.
abstract: Temporary extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been established as an essential part of therapy in patients with pulmonary or cardiac failure. As physiological gaseous exchange is artificially altered in this patient group, it is debatable whether a (13) C-breath test can be carried out. In this proof of technical feasibility report, we assess the viability of the (13) C-breath test LiMAx (maximum liver function capacity) in patients on ECMO therapy. All breath probes for the test device were obtained directly via the membrane oxygenator. Data of four patients receiving liver function assessment with the (13) C-breath test LiMAx while having ECMO therapy were analyzed. All results were compared with validated scenarios of the testing procedures. The LiMAx test could successfully be carried out in every case without changing ECMO settings. Clinical course of the patients ranging from multiorgan failure to no sign of liver insufficiency was in accordance with the results of the LiMAx liver function test. The (13) C-breath test is technically feasible in the context of ECMO. Further evaluation of (13) C-breath test in general would be worthwhile. The LiMAx test as a (13) C-breath test accessing liver function might be of particular predictive interest if patients with ECMO therapy develop multiorgan failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.|Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Rhine Westphalia Institute of Technology, University Clinic Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bednarsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menk
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malinowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weber-Carstens
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pratschke
authors.affiliation: Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stockmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D004867:Equipment Design; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes
keywords: Breath tests; Carbon isotopes; Extracorporeal assist; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Liver function; Maximum liver function capacity; Methacetin