Pediatric ECMO for pulmonary support: experience from 12 cases.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which can be described as treatment with a modified heart-lung machine over a prolonged period of time, is used to support patients with life-threatening but potentially reversible lung failure. ECMO by itself does not cure the patient but gives the lungs a chance to rest while awaiting spontaneous or therapeutic healing. The method is well documented in the neonatal age group. In the non-neonatal age group, however, experience is less extensive. This report of the initial result from our hospital with 12 non-neonatal pediatric cases shows high survival and low morbidity. Nine of the 12 patients were able to be weaned from ECMO (75% survival) and 8 of these 9 patients were long-term survivors. Medium time on the ventilator after discontinuation of ECMO was 4 days. At follow-up, all long-term survivors had no signs of neurological or pulmonary sequelae. These encouraging results point to the fact that ECMO should be considered more often in cases of life-threatening but potentially reversible pulmonary failure.
Ehrén
H
H
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Karolinska Institute, St. Göran's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Palmér
K
K
Eriksson
M
M
Frenckner
B
B
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D016720:Pneumocystis Infections / Q000628:therapy