[Results after ECMO-treatment of newborn babies and infants in Denmark from 1995-2004].
BACKGROUND
In 1995 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was introduced in Denmark as a treatment for critically ill infants. ECMO is primarily used in infants with severe meconium aspiration, but can be used for all kinds of pulmonary and cardiac failures as well. The purpose of our work was to evaluate the Danish ECMO-treatment.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective study of 55 infants receiving ECMO, and the parents of the surviving children were sent questionnaires. All the completed questionnaires were returned except for one from a family that emigrated from Denmark. The statistical analyses are based on chi2-tests and 95% CI.


RESULTS
Only in four cases was the treatment without complications. Thirty-one infants had technical complications and 48 had medical complications. Cerebral complications arose in 28 infants. Thirty-nine (71%) infants were alive at the time of the survey. 42% of the parents reported sequels or suspicion of sequels. The primary sequels were reduced hearing, which was observed in eight infants, and chronic lung disease, which was observed in seven. Only one child was severely disabled.


CONCLUSIONS
The underlying diagnoses, mortality and disability correspond to the results in an English randomised study.
Eriksen
Vibeke
V
Rigshospitalet, Juliane Marie Centret, Neonatalklinikken. vibekeeriksen@stud.ku.dk
Helvind
Morten H
MH
Greisen
Gorm
G
D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires