Reconstruction of the arteria carotis communis in newborn following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

With the help of ECMO it is possible to save the lives of newborn infants suffering from severe respiratory distress syndrome not responding to conservative treatment. Using Bartlett's classic venous-arterial perfusion technique in ECMO the right arteria carotis communis had to be sacrificed. Thus, despite the life-saving character of this new method, the ligation of the carotid with all its possible complications had often been a major argument against using this therapy. We are now therefore trying to reconstruct the arteria carotis after decannulating the vessel after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. In our 8 cases so far, post-op examinations showed no obstruction of blood flow in the vessel. No neurological deficiencies were recorded.