Post Cardiotomy ECMO improves survival in pediatric patients with failed CPB weaning

South Korea: A recent study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics found that in cases of failed cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) weaning and deterioration in ICU, post-cardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (PC-ECMO) is an effective approach to support neonates and pediatric patients. 

"ECMO, although improves survival, morbidity and mortality remain high, particularly in neonates and pediatric patients with single ventricle physiology. Most genetic conditions alone should not be considered a contraindication to ECMO support," Hwa Jin Cho, Chonnam National University Children's Hospital and Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea, and colleagues wrote in their study. 

Previous studies have shown PC-ECMO to be a rescue therapy for neonates and pediatric patients with failed CPD weaning or those who deteriorate in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to several reasons including cardiac arrest, low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), and respiratory failure. 

Against the above background, the researchers' team conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis for assessing survival in neonates and pediatric patients requiring PC-ECMO and sought the difference in survival by each indication for PC-ECMO.