Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a European center--clinical experience

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has rapidly become the treatment of choice for critically ill newborn infants with reversible pulmonary disease refractory to conventional treatment. Since 1987 ECMO has been available at our hospital and up to December 1989 11 patients have been treated. Eight patients could be weaned from ECMO. The aim of this study was to describe the procedure and its implications in the neonatal and pediatric age groups and to present our experience. It is concluded that even though ECMO in the short term is a costly and personnel-consuming procedure it is well documented, safe and life-saving.