ECMO for left ventricular assist in a newborn with critical aortic stenosis

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used in neonates for a variety of disease states including congenital diaphragmatic hernia, meconium aspiration syndrome, sepsis, and postoperative cardiac compromise. To our knowledge, ECMO has not been employed prior to cardiac catheterization in critical aortic stenosis (CAS). We report a neonatal case of CAS where ECMO was used early as a form of left ventricular assist to achieve adequate systemic perfusion and oxygenation and reduce myocardial ischemia. The patient was maintained on ECMO during subsequent attempts at cardiac catheterization, balloon valvuloplasty, and operative valvotomy.