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Pediatric ECMO for pulmonary support: experience from 12 cases
Author(s) -
Ehren H,
Palmer K,
Eriksson M,
Frenckner B
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1995.tb13668.x
Subject(s) - medicine , extracorporeal membrane oxygenation , discontinuation , life support , extracorporeal , respiratory failure , surgery , lung , pediatrics , intensive care medicine
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which can be described as treatment with a modified heart–lung machine over a prolonged period of time, is used to support patients with life–threatening but potentially reversible lung failure. ECMO by itself does not cure the patient but gives the lungs a chance to rest while awaiting spontaneous or therapeutic healing. The method is well documented in the neonatal age group. In the non–neonatal age group, however, experience is less extensive. This report of the initial result from our hospital with 12 non–neonatal pediatric cases shows high survival and low morbidity. Nine of the 12 patients were able to be weaned from ECMO (75% survival) and 8 of these 9 patients were long–term survivors. Medium time on the ventilator after discontinuation of ECMO was 4 days. At follow–up, all long–term survivors had no signs of neurological or pulmonary sequelae. These encouraging results point to the fact that ECMO should be considered more often in cases of life–threatening but potentially reversible pulmonary failure