[Experimental and clinical study on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for newborn respiratory failure]

Simple method of venoarterial (V-A) bypass was developed for neonatal ECMO. Technical aspects in the management of our device was shown in this report. The most important technique was to keep the flow of ECMO less than 60-80 ml/min/kg. The low flow circulation less than 80 ml/min/kg made puppies alive under apnea experimentally. Clinically we experienced four newborn cases. All cases had severe respiratory failure with AaDO2 above 580 mmHg due to congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Two cases of them were able to survive. Other two cases died from intracranial hemorrhage during ECMO. The oxygenation of all cases was satisfactory under relative low flows. Our simple ECMO circuit was not only easy to operate but also to give less damage to blood.