title: Preoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to cardiac surgery in children with congenital heart disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in bridging children with unrepaired heart defects to a definitive or palliative surgical procedure has been rarely reported. The goal of this study is to report our institutional experience with ECMO used to provide preoperative stabilization after acute cardiac or respiratory failure in patients with congenital heart disease before cardiac surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of the ECMO database at Children's Hospital Boston was undertaken. Children with unrepaired congenital heart disease supported with ECMO for acute cardiac or respiratory failure as bridge to a definitive or palliative cardiac surgical procedure were identified. Data collection included patient demographics, indication for ECMO, details regarding ECMO course and complications, and survival to hospital discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six patients (18 male, 8 female) with congenital heart disease were bridged to surgical palliation or anatomic repair with ECMO. Median age and weight at ECMO cannulation were, respectively, 0.12 months (range, 0 to 193) and 4 kg (range, 1.8 to 67 kg). Sixteen patients (62%) survived to hospital discharge. Variables associated with mortality included inability to decannulate from ECMO after surgery (p = 0.02) and longer total duration of ECMO (p = 0.02). No difference in outcomes was found between patients with single and biventricular anatomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, used as a bridge to surgery, represents a useful modality to rescue patients with failing circulation and unrepaired complex heart defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bautista-Hernandez
authors.forename: Ravi R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Thiagarajan
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fynn-Thompson
authors.forename: Satish K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rajagopal
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Nento
authors.forename: Vamsi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yarlagadda
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Teele
authors.forename: Catherine K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Sitaram M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Emani
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Laussen
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Pigula
authors.forename: Emile A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Bacha
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate