Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Respiratory Failure in Term Infants

Abstract

Eight [human] infants with intractable respiratory failure were treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Intractable respiratory failure was defined as alveolar-arterial O2 gradient of more than 620 torr for 6-12 h that did not respond to hyperventilation and the use of tolazoline. Infants with overt sepsis, CNS damage or other debilitating conditions were not considered for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Of the 8 infants, 6 survived after a mean extracorporeal membrane oxygenation time of 164 h. Of the 6 survivors, 5 were normal neurologically and developmentally when examined at 1 yr of age.