The International journal of artificial organs
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One hundred and seventy-seven term or near-term neonates were referred to an ECMO center for severe PPHN-associated diseases. In 2 time periods from 1987 to 1991 and from 1992 to April 1995 alternative treatment modes were tried in an attempt to obviate ECMO. During the first time period patients underwent trial high-frequency oscillatory ventilation before ECMO. ⋯ In both time periods about 40% of the patients were spared ECMO treatment by these alternative treatment modalities. INO only benefited 15% of the ECMO candidates who apparently had fared just as well on HFOV alone in the preceding time period. While patients who were improved by INO were spared HFOV with its potential severe complications, i.e. air leaks and cardiocirculatory instability, more extended long-term studies will have to show which of these 2 treatment modalities (INO or HFOV) should be given first priority in an attempt to avoid ECMO in neonates with severe respiratory failure.
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Within the last decade extracorporeal lung assist has been recommended for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, this recommendation was challenged by several recent clinical studies and reviews. The goal of our analysis was therefore to investigate data on outcome and severity of gas exchange disturbance published from patients treated with ECLA. ⋯ Therefore the mortality of these patients with severe lung injury was in the range of patients treated conventionally. Patient outcome observed in our analysis is in accordance with the mortality rates from the European ECLA centres published recently (49% in 1993). Therefore, we conclude that the mean mortality rate of patients suffering from severe ARDS treated with ECLA is in the 50% range and does not differ significantly from those of patients treated conventionally, despite significantly poorer pulmonary function.
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The use of exogenous surfactant and nitric oxide in neonates has reduced the number of infants requiring ECMO. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate whether these two therapeutic options might reduce the number of over 28 days old children with severe ARDS requiring ECMO, without reducing changes of survival and morbidity. Over a 30 month period all non-neonatal ARDS patients transferred to our institution for ECMO evaluation were treated based on a study-algorithm. ⋯ No patient had to be discharged on oxygen. A sophisticated treatment algorithm integrating different modern ARDS treatment options can reduce the number of patients requiring ECMO. We speculate however that these options can only be used effectively in centers involved in ARDS treatment quite frequently and that these centers have to provide ECMO as one of their therapeutic tools.
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Seven newborn infants with life-threatening respiratory failure were treated with veno-venous (V-V) extracorporeal lung support and apneic oxygenation after maximal ventilatory and pharmacological treatment failed. Diagnosis were meconium aspiration syndrome in 3 cases, respiratory distress syndrome in 2, sepsis in 1, congenital diaphragmatic hernia in 1. Before ECMO 6 infants received tolazoline, 4 surfactant, 3 high frequency ventilation, 1 prostaglandin E, 1 epoprostenol, 2 nitric oxide. ⋯ Growth and neurologic development of the older children is normal. The extracorporeal lung support with V-V bypass associated with apneic oxygenation was effective in reversing severe neonatal respiratory failure unresponsive to maximal ventilatory and pharmacological support. An early referral, prior to meeting ECMO criteria, is important in order to avoid hypoxic complications preceding ECMO.