Outcome of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia who receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy.
OBJECTIVE
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an accepted therapy for acute respiratory failure but more recently has been used in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and superimposed acute pulmonary insults. The purpose of this study was to review the outcomes of such infants.


METHODS
Charts of infants at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) who had a diagnosis of BPD before ECMO were reviewed. In addition, to obtain survival data in a larger population, the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry was searched for infants with BPD before ECMO.


RESULTS
Of 204 patients who received noncardiac ECMO at CHOP, 9 had BPD before ECMO. Of 7 survivors, 4 were still ventilator dependent at 9 to 39 months of corrected age. Developmentally, 4 had significant global delays, whereas 3 had significant language and motor delays with average to mildly delayed cognitive abilities. The ELSO Registry search showed 76 patients with BPD before ECMO, with a 78% survival.


CONCLUSIONS
The survival rate of infants with BPD who receive ECMO is comparable to, or better than, the survival rates in most other ECMO populations. However, there appears to be a high risk of severe pulmonary and neurodevelopmental sequelae.
Hibbs
A
A
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Department of Psychology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Evans
J R
JR
Gerdes
M
M
Hunter
J V
JV
Cullen
J A
JA
D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome