Journal of pediatric surgery
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Case Reports
Experience with renal failure during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: treatment with continuous hemofiltration.
We use extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to treat respiratory and cardiac failure in children who are unresponsive to standard ventilator and pharmacologic management. All patients have cardiac and abdominal ultrasonography prior to ECMO to identify major structural anomalies and anatomically normal kidneys. Despite this, oliguric renal failure is seen in a number of patients. ⋯ Four of the patients on CH died of their primary pulmonary or cardiac disease without specific problems related to ARF. The other two patients were successfully weaned from ECMO, extubated, and have not needed further therapy for renal failure. We conclude that CH is useful in managing the complications of oliguric renal failure during ECMO.