Anest. intenziv. Med. 2012;23(3):147-151

Current position of exctracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the treatment of respiratory and circulatory failure in childrenUpdate in Intensive Care Medicine

Vobruba Václav

Klinika dětského a dorostového lékařství Všeobecné fakultní nemocnice a 1. lékařské fakulty Univerzity Karlovy, Praha

Current knowledge of the exctracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) method, which is generally used in children, is reviewed in this article. A change in the spectrum of diseases indicated for ECMO therapy in children has been well documented during the past fifteen years. The number of chronically ill children undergoing ECMO is rising, the percentage of co-morbidity-free survivors out of the total ECMO survivor population has increased, survival among chronically ill children has decreased whereas the total number of treated children by ECMO has increased. The incidence of the veno-venous ECMO modality has risen compared to the venous-arterial ECMO modality which may lead to a significantly higher survival documented in children treated by veno-venous ECMO.

Keywords: exctracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); respiratory failure; cardiovasculary failure; children

Received: January 19, 2012; Accepted: May 31, 2012; Published: June 1, 2012  Show citation