Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in neonates: a single center experience in Turkey

Background/aim: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a form of life support for patients with respiratory failure, cardiac failure, or both. The aim of this study was to evaluate neonates supported with ECMO and report our experience as a Turkish neonatal intensive care unit. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 11 newborn infants treated with ECMO at Ankara University for respiratory and cardiac failure. We reported the demographic, diagnostic, laboratory, and clinical data of the patients. Results: Eleven patients (9 male, 2 female) received ECMO support with a mean gestational age of 39.1 ± 1.6 weeks and mean birth weight of 3513 ± 506 g. Six patients received venoarterial (VA) ECMO and five patients received venovenous (VV) ECMO. Mean age at initiation and duration of ECMO was 7.2 ± 7.4 days (2–24 days) and 10.4 ± 4.9 days (5–21 days), respectively. Mean oxygenation index (OI) before ECMO was 48.5 ± 5.7. ECMO was withdrawn from one patient due to severe brain injury. The survival rate for ECMO was 73% and the survival rate to discharge was 64%, whereas the survival rate in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) cases was 40%. Conclusion: Our early results from ECMO for neonates are encouraging. Identification of patients for ECMO support and timely referral will offer a survival opportunity to complex neonatal cases.