title: [Swedish experiences with ECMO--treatment with an artificial lung].
abstract: ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) involves long term treatment in a modified heart lung machine. It is used in the treatment of patients with extremely severe, acute respiratory distress in order to provide gas exchange through an extracorporeal artificial oxygenator. From 1987 until March 2003, 200 patients have been treated in this center. 104 were neonates, 50 older children and 46 adults. Meconium aspiration syndrome and congenital diaphragmatic hernia were the most common diagnoses among neonates, whereas pneumonia was the most frequent in older children and adults. In total 140 patients (70 per cent) survived until discharge or referral. The survival rate was higher among neonates (80 per cent) than older children (54 per cent) and adults (65 per cent). ECMO has been concluded to be life saving in selected cases of extremely severe acute respiratory failure.
authors.affiliation: Enheten för barnkirurgi, Astrid Lindgrens barnsjukhus, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset Solna. bjorn.frenckner@ks.se
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frenckner
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frisén
authors.forename: Palle
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palmér
authors.forename: Viveka
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lindén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D002648:Child; D000075202:Contraindications; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D013548:Sweden; D014187:Transportation of Patients