Indication for using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in congenital diaphragmatic hernias and pulmonary hypoplasia

Despite the apparent surgical simplicity of the anatomic defect, congenital diaphragmatic hernia continues to be a critical problem in neonatal surgery, so that survival is still uncertain. Therefore, we must realize that the barriers to survival are pulmonary parenchymal and vascular hypoplasia as well as the complex syndrome of persisting fetal circulation. However, new treatment methods, such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), although controversial, may improve survival. We believe that no infant should be excluded from diaphragmatic repair or consideration for ECMO-support before accurate predictive parameters have been developed that take both pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension into account. ECMO additionally enables us to postpone the operation until stabilization of the newborn (Late Operation Protocol). Apart from this, we can probably improve the long-term results after ECMO by reconstructing the common carotid artery.