Sonographically guided cannula positioning for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Drainage problems due to catheter malpositioning are acutely life-threatening in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. In order to reduce these complications we introduced sonographically guided catheter positioning. We compare the outcome in a group of patients with blind cannula positioning to that in a group with sonographically guided catheter positioning. Our results show that neonates and young infants especially are at high risk of drainage problems due to catheter malposition and that their outcome could be markedly improved by introducing sonographically guided cannula insertion.
Riccabona
M
M
Department of Pediatric Radiology, University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz, A-8036 Graz, Austria.
Dacar
D
D
Zobel
G
G
Kuttnig-Haim
M
M
Maurer
U
U
Urlesberger
B
B
Reiterer
F
F
D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional