Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory failure in term infants
Kirkpatrick, B.V.; Krummel, T.M.; Mueller, D.G.; Ormazabal, M.A.; Greenfield, L.J.; Salzberg, A.M.
Pediatrics 72(6): 872-876
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-4005 PMID: 6196712 Document Number: 217588
Eight infants with intractable respiratory failure were treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Intractable respiratory failure was defined as alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient of more than 620 torr for six to 12 hours that did not respond to hyperventilation and the use of tolazoline. Infants with overt sepsis, CNS damage, or other debilitating conditions were not considered for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Six of the eight infants survived after a mean extracorporeal membrane oxygenation time of 164 hours. Five of the six survivors were normal neurologically and developmentally when examined at 1 year of age.