[Results of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation following cardiac surgery in 16 children in the St Radboud University Medical Centre, 1996-2004].
OBJECTIVE
Description of the results with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in infants with cardiorespiratory failure after open-heart surgery.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Data on the indications, survival, and complications were collected from all infants treated with ECMO for cardiorespiratory failure after open-heart surgery in the period 1996-2004 in the St Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.


RESULTS
17 ECMO treatments were carried out in 16 paediatric patients: 7 girls and 9 boys. All patients had severe circulatory failure, sometimes combined with respiratory insufficiency. The patients' average age was 8 months (range: 1 day-3 years and 10 months). The average duration of treatment was 137 hours (range: 8-433). In 12 of the 17 ECMO treatments, the patient was successfully weaned from ECMO and 7 patients were discharged home. 5 patients died in hospital after successful ECMO treatment. 10 of the 16 patients died. A functional univentricular heart was associated with a high mortality. Haemorrhage, renal insufficiency and; sepsis were the most frequent complications. Major causes of death were sepsis, multi-organ failure and pulmonary hypertension.
Dillingh
S J
SJ
Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, Nijmegen.
Backx
A P C M
AP
Nijveld
A
A
Zegers
H
H
van Heijst
A F J
AF
D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome