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Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a Bridge to Cardiac Transplantation in Children
Author(s) -
Ishino Kozo,
Weng Yuguo,
AlexiMeskishvili Vladimir,
Loebe Matthias,
Uhlemann Frank,
Lange Peter E.,
Hetzer Roland
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1594.1996.tb04513.x
Subject(s) - extracorporeal membrane oxygenation , medicine , transplantation , bridge to transplantation , cardiac surgery , surgery , incidence (geometry) , extracorporeal , extracorporeal circulation , heart transplantation , physics , optics
The feasibility and efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to cardiac transplantation was examined in 6 pediatric patients who suffered irreversible myocardial failure after undergoing surgery for congenital heart defects. The mean time of ECMO support was 260.5 h, range, 101–402 h. Three patients underwent transplantation, 2 of whom are long‐term survivors. Progressive hypotension as a result of capillary leak syndrome precluded further ECMO support in the other 3 patients. Overall, 2 of the 6 patients survived. Major complications were encountered in 4 patients including bleeding in 2, a seizure in 1, and renal failure in 3, 2 of whom recovered renal function after transplantation. Infection did not occur in any of the 6 patients. Exchanging ECMO components was performed with no difficulties; these exchanges included a centrifugal pump once for 2 patients and a membrane oxygenator once for 3 patients. Our results indicate that ECMO can safely keep critically ill pediatric transplant candidates alive for more than 1 week with a low incidence of multiple organ failure.