• S J Dillingh, A P C M Backx, A Nijveld, H Zegers, and A F J van Heijst.
• Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, Nijmegen.
• Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2006 Feb 25;150(8):425-8.

ObjectiveDescription of the results with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in infants with cardiorespiratory failure after open-heart surgery.DesignProspective observational study.MethodData on the indications, survival, and complications were collected from all infants treated with ECMO for cardiorespiratory failure after open-heart surgery in the period 1996-2004 in the St Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.Results17 ECMO treatments were carried out in 16 paediatric patients: 7 girls and 9 boys. All patients had severe circulatory failure, sometimes combined with respiratory insufficiency. The patients' average age was 8 months (range: 1 day-3 years and 10 months). The average duration of treatment was 137 hours (range: 8-433). In 12 of the 17 ECMO treatments, the patient was successfully weaned from ECMO and 7 patients were discharged home. 5 patients died in hospital after successful ECMO treatment. 10 of the 16 patients died. A functional univentricular heart was associated with a high mortality. Haemorrhage, renal insufficiency and; sepsis were the most frequent complications. Major causes of death were sepsis, multi-organ failure and pulmonary hypertension.

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