Pulmonary sequelae at six months following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Mechanical assisted ventilation for neonatal respiratory failure is associated with residual lung disease. Because ECMO rests the lungs, it has been suggested that ECMO will prevent chronic lung disease in survivors. To determine whether or not ECMO survivors have evidence of pulmonary sequelae, we studied 19 infants who were treated with ECMO for neonatal respiratory failure. Ten infants still required supplemental oxygen or pulmonary medications or both to treat clinical lung disease during the first six months of life. Thoracic gas volume was normal. Pulmonary mechanics in ECMO survivors were compared with those of 13 preterm infants with BPD at similar age. We conclude that a significant proportion of ECMO survivors have residual abnormalities in pulmonary mechanics at 6 months of age. We speculate that neonatal lung injury due to meconium aspiration and other causes is a more important determinant of abnormal pulmonary sequelae than the method of treatment.
Garg
M
M
Division of Neonatology and Pediatric Pulmonology, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles, University of Southern California School of Medicine.
Kurzner
S I
SI
Bautista
D B
DB
Lew
C D
CD
Ramos
A D
AD
Platzker
A C
AC
Keens
T G
TG
D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D010547:Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics