title: Long-term follow-up of infants and children treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): a preliminary report.
abstract: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) has been used clinically as a life-saving treatment modality in infants and children who are dying of respiratory insufficiency. From 1973 to 1980 47 children less than 10 years of age were treated in a study to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of ECMO in the pediatric population. Despite a predicted mortality of 90% or greater, 24 patients survived. Eighteen of those patients have been seen in long-term follow-up. Thirteen patients (72%) demonstrate basically normal growth and development. Five patients (28%) have definite handicaps which are severe in two. Despite ligation of one common carotid artery and systemic heparinization, the risk of intracranial hemorrhage and/or neurodevelopmental problems appears to be no higher in this ECMO group and may even be lower than in the high-risk population treated with conventional therapy. The incidence of chronic respiratory problems, especially bronchopulmonary dysplasia, is zero in this group of patients. Only one patient (4%) has a defect that lateralizes to the right hemisphere which may have been affected by ligation of the carotid artery. Further study is required; however, it appears that ECMO offers life-saving intervention without increasing morbidity in select children with severe respiratory insufficiency.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000209:etiology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010107:Oxygenators, Membrane / Q000009:adverse effects; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors