[Results of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in 100 newborns with cardiorespiratory insufficiency].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the results of treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in newborns with severe cardiorespiratory insufficiency.

DESIGN

Prospective, descriptive.

METHODS

For all 100 newborns treated with ECMO in 1989-1997 in the Academic Hospital Nijmegen, department of Neonatology, the Netherlands, indications for treatment, complications during treatment and mortality within 6 weeks after cessation of ECMO were registered.

RESULTS

The 100 children comprised 66 boys and 34 girls, with a mean age of 2 days (range: 1-15). Indications for ECMO treatment were: meconium aspiration syndrome: 39 with 37 survivors (95%), congenital diaphragmatic hernia: 31 with 23 survivors (74%), sepsis or pneumonia: 20 with 14 survivors (70%) and 'others' among which persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn: 10 with 8 survivors (80%). Eighteen children died (18%). Causes of death were rebound pulmonary hypertension (9 times), intracranial haemorrhage (4), multi-organ failure (3) and pulmonary problems (2). The most important complications during treatment were bleeding problems (29), clotting problems (20) and infections (11).