A simplified technique for short-term postcardiotomy pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Abstract

In the current era, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is one of the appropriate tools for cardiopulmonary mechanical support after reparative surgery for congenital heart disease. Mechanical support is specially indicated for lesions and procedures in which transient postoperative myocardial dysfunction is expected and there is a reasonable chance of recovery. The usual postcardiotomy ECMO technique involves the replacement of the conventional extracorporeal circuit with a special closed ECMO circuit and oxygenator. We describe a modification of the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit to create a closed ECMO circuit for short-term support, by using the standard parts of a conventional CPB circuit.