First clinical application of an automatic VA-ECMO system using artificial hearts as a blood pump

A new extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit using air-driven artificial hearts as a blood pump was first applied on a newborn with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. ECMO was continued for 67 hours 36 minutes with no mechanical trouble. Since the artificial hearts changed their output automatically in proportion to venous return and did not generate excessive negative and excessive positive pressure, the automatic ECMO circuit could be handled safely by a small number of less-skilled staff.