Abstract

GONZALEZ-PARDO, Otto M.; CASSALETT-BUSTILLO, Gabriel  and  NUNEZ, Federico. Respiratory ECMO as treatment of choice for refractory respiratory failure in pediatric patients. Rev. Colomb. Cardiol. [online]. 2016, vol.23, n.6, pp.560-560. ISSN 0120-5633.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rccar.2016.01.021.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a useful alternative therapy when managing refractory respiratory failure in pediatric patients. An infection caused by respiratory syncytial virus is a prevalent condition in our city, with a disease burden that accounts for 75% of hospital admissions in children under to years of age who have been diagnosed of bronchiolitis. An oxygenation index above 40 predicts a mortality of over 80% for these patients; likewise, it has been found that a pH below 7.29 is an independent mortality risk factor for this same group.

ECMO is a therapy that has shown survival rates of 53% in this patient group since 1985, reaching a level of 63% over recent years, particularly when the aetiology is respiratory syncytial virus. Two cases of infants with refractory respiratory failure where ECMO therapy was chosen and achieved survival of both children are reported.

Keywords : Extracorporeal circulation; Pediatrics; Hypoxia.

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