[Long-Term Development of Infants after Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)]

Area of Science:

• Neonatology
• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Neonatal lung failure and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) therapy are associated with common long-term morbidities.
• Effective follow-up is crucial for quality assessment in ECMO centers and for parental counseling.
• Long travel distances pose challenges for follow-up in geographically dispersed ECMO centers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the applicability of parent-completed questionnaires for long-term follow-up of neonates with severe lung failure.
• To assess the feasibility of using questionnaires for developmental screening in this high-risk pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 31 former newborns with severe lung failure underwent follow-up using questionnaires.
• Developmental screening was performed, and doctor's letters/telephone interviews were systematically evaluated.
• Questionnaires were sent to 28 families, with a response rate of 82% (23 returned).

Main Results:

• Four children (22% of respondents) had questionnaire results indicating a risk of developmental delay (below the 90th percentile).
• Three of these children were 2 years old and did not require ECMO at birth for respiratory failure.
• One 6-year-old child, who had undergone ECMO post-birth, presented with abnormal questionnaire findings.

Conclusions:

• Structured questionnaires can detect abnormal development in children with severe neonatal lung failure.
• This pilot study suggests questionnaires are a feasible tool for follow-up in this population.
• Further evaluation in larger cohorts, validated against established developmental tests, is recommended.