Acta paediatrica
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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. ⋯ 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.