Three transports of children with respiratory or cardiac failure under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support

Abstract

Objective To introduce experience of 3 transports of children with respiratory or cardiac failure under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) support. Methods The clinical data of three patients, neonatal transposition of great arteries/intact ventricular septum with heart failure(case 1), severe pneumonia complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome(case 2) and nephrotic syndrome complicated with pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome(case 3)transferred to Bayi Children′s Hospital under ECMO support from February to April 2016, were analyzed retrospectively. Results Case 1 was safely transferred to our hospital after 8-hour ECMO transport with the assistance of 43 hours.Switch operation was finished the next day.The sternum was closed postoperatively in 2 days, ventilation was weaned in 7 days and transferred out of ICU in 15 days.Case 2 was transported to our institution after 8 hours.The patient with 45-hour assistance of the ECMO device had to be ventilatied for 8 days, the stay on ICU was 10 days.The 3rd patient had been treating with the ECMO device 32 days after 15-hour transportion under ECMO support, died of multiple organ failure. Conclusion ECMO support for the critical respiratory or cardiac failure in children can be performed safely and reliably, if the ECMO transport team members received strict training, highly organization and cooperation. Key words: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Heart failure; Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Neonate; Pediatrics; Transport