Cyclohexanone Exposure in Children on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support

The aim of this study was to determine if plasma cyclohexanone and metabolites are associated with clinical outcomes of children on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective observational study of children on ECMO support at two academic centers between July 2010 and June 2015. We measured plasma cyclohexanone and metabolites on the first and last days of ECMO support. Unfavorable outcome was defined as in-hospital death or discharge Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category score > 2 or decline ≥ 1 from baseline. Among 90 children included, 49 (54%) had unfavorable outcome at discharge. Cyclohexanediol, a cyclohexanone metabolite, was detected in all samples and at both time points; concentrations on the first ECMO day were significantly higher in those with unfavorable versus favorable outcome at hospital discharge (median, 5.7 ng/µl; interquartile range [IQR], 3.3-10.6 ng/µl vs. median, 4.2 ng/µl; IQR, 1.7-7.3 ng/µl; p = 0.04). Twofold higher cyclohexanediol concentrations on the first ECMO day were associated with increased risk of unfavorable outcome at hospital discharge (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.24 [95% CI, 1.05-1.48]). Higher cyclohexanediol concentrations on the first ECMO day were not significantly associated with new abnormal neuroimaging or 1-year Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II score < 85 or death among survivors.