• Rahul Vasavada, Feng Qiu, and Akif Undar.
• Pediatric Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
• Perfusion. 2011 Jul 1;26(4):294-301.

AbstractExtracorporeal life support (ECLS) offers lifesaving mechanical circulatory support for patients afflicted with respiratory and/or cardiac failure. Neonatal respiratory patients have higher survival rates compared to pediatric patients, while, for cardiac cases, pediatric patients are more likely to survive. The indications for ECLS have been expanded due to the improved technology and favorable outcomes. However, the rate of mortality and morbidity for ECLS patients remains significant. Mechanical complications still comprise a large percentage of ECLS complications, leaving definite room for improvement in ECLS circuit technology in the future. As a pre-clinical evaluating tool, translational research will provide more useful information for the selection of ECLS devices, encourage further development of ECLS technology, and, ultimately, benefit the patients.

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