Efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a congenital heart surgery program.
BACKGROUND
To report our experience with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in a congenital heart surgery program.


METHODS
Since 12/1996, 24 patients (8 newborns, 9 infants, 3 children, 4 adolescents/ adults 17-23 years), mean age 4.0+/-7.4 years (2 days-23 years), body weight 2.7-87 kg had ECMO as circulatory support. Indication was failure to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass in the majority of cases.


RESULTS
Mean duration of support was 3.8+/-2.9 d (12 h-13 d). Fourteen patients were weaned from ECMO (9 discharged), three successfully transplanted (one after switching to a pulsatile assist device). One patient on left-ventricular support required ECMO for sudden right ventricular failure (decreased). There were six deaths on ECMO due to multiorgan failure (MOV) (3) or no myocardial recovery (3). Six patients died after weaning (3 MOV, 2 myocardial failure, 1 fungal sepsis). Overall, twelve patients (50%) were discharged and are clinically well after 3.4+/-2.4 years (0.8-7.2 years).


CONCLUSIONS
In our series, ECMO markedly reduces mortality in patients who would otherwise not survive either open heart surgery or myocardial failure of any origin and was not associated with discernible morbidity in the midterm.
Sachweh
Jörg S
JS
Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, Aachen, Germany. jsachweh@ukaachen.de
Tiete
Andreas R
AR
Fuchs
Alexandra
A
Römer
Ulrich
U
Kozlik-Feldmann
Reiner
R
Reichart
Bruno
B
Däbritz
Sabine H
SH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome