[Newborn life threatening respiratory failure treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation].

UNLABELLED: THE AIM of the study was to show first results of newborn life threatening respiratory failure treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in Poland.

MATERIAL: Nine newborns were treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in Silesian Center for Heart Diseases. Newborns were born in 38 week of gestational age (36-41 weeks) with mean birth weight of 3490 g. Reasons for the referral were: meconium aspiration syndrome, infection, and pulmonary hypertension. Each newborn fulfilled an Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) criteria for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

RESULTS

seven out of nine of patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation survived. Full clinical stabilization was reached about 6th hour of treatment. Mean extracorporeal oxygenation time was 162 hours. For eight newborns veno-venous method was applied and for one newborn veno-arterial method. Roller pump was used in 7 cases and centrifugal pomp in one case. Five newborns had uneventful treatment. During extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy we have observed several complications: PDA, hemorrhagic complications, renal failure, arterial hypertension, septicemia, tubing rupture.

CONCLUSIONS

extracorporeal oxygenation is an effective method of treatment for newborn life threatening respiratory failure. Obtained results do not differ much from Extracorporeal Life Support Organization register results. The most essential problem for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy is correct qualification, early referral, safe transportation as well as the development of centers providing ECMO treatment.