• Robert Pettignano, Micheal L Heard, Michele D Labuz, Scott F Wagoner, and James Fortenberry.
• Division of Critical Care Medicine, Nemours Children's Clinic Orlando, Orlando, FL 32806, USA. rpettignano@nemours.org
• Pediatr Crit Care Me. 2003 Jul 1;4(3):363-6.

ObjectiveTo discuss the factors associated with hair loss reported after the completion of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.DesignProspective survey and retrospective chart review.SettingTertiary care pediatric and adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation program in a children's hospital.PatientsAll patients aged > or =60 months who underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory or cardiac failure.InterventionsTelephone survey of all patients or patient families who met study entry criteria.Measurements And Main ResultsTwelve extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients met entry criteria. Nine were contacted and surveyed. Seven children and one adult reported hair loss. One child had no reported hair loss. One patient had a reported hair loss of <10%, three had 25% hair loss, two had 50% hair loss, and two had >50% hair loss. Initial hair loss occurred between 2 wks and 3 months after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and lasted from 1 to 6 months. No patient sought medical treatment and all reported regrowth of their hair by 6 months after identifying the initial hair loss.ConclusionsHair loss after critical illness is a well-documented phenomenon. Hair loss after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has not been previously reported. The etiology of the hair loss is probably multifactorial and resolves spontaneously. Patients and families should be educated about hair loss as a potential side effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during their post-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and discharge teaching.

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