Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for chickenpox pneumonia: a single institution's experience

The experience of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use for severe chickenpox pneumonia was reviewed. Case notes of all patients treated with ECMO for this disease between 1992 and 1997 were reviewed. Of 405 patients referred for ECMO during this period, the diagnosis was chickenpox pneumonia in 14 (3.5%); all 14 were treated with ECMO. The median age of patients was 32.5 years (range 5 to 61 years). The median duration of extracorporeal support was 164 hours (range 45 to 652). Ten of 14 patients (71%) required hemofiltration. Overall survival of patients supported with ECMO was 57% (8 of 14). Deaths were caused by sepsis (5 patients, source identified in 4) and multiorgan failure (1 patient). Pneumonia as a complication of chickenpox can rapidly become severe and life threatening. Extracorporeal respiratory support may be helpful in patients refractory to conventional ventilation.