Anales españoles de pediatría
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Extracorporal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an alternative to cases of respiratory or cardiopulmonary insufficiency when conventional therapy has failed. We present the first 22 patients treated with ECMO at the neonatology unit of the "Gregorio Marañon" Hospital. ⋯ ECMO is an effective treatment in rescuing critical patients when conventional treatment fails. Meconium aspiration syndrome is the pathology with the best prognosis on ECMO. Cardiac ECMO represents a complex group of patients in which ECMO is the only treatment and which may result in recovery in 40% of the patients.