Chinese Journal of Evidence -Based Pediatric ›› 2020, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (4): 302-305.

• Original Papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in 17 infants after congenital cardiac surgery: A case series report

MENG Fan-wei, LIANG Wei-jie, YANG Lei-yi, LI Jian-chao, QIAN Xiao-liang, REN Pei-jun, FAN Tai-bing, PENG Bang-tian   

  1. Department of Cardiopulmonary Bypass, Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital
  • Received:2020-03-25 Revised:2020-07-01 Online:2020-08-25 Published:2020-08-25
  • Contact: YANG Lei-yi

Abstract: Objective: To summarize the clinical experience of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in infants after cardiac surgery and evaluate its effect. Methods: The infants who had undergone ECMO support after surgery for congenital heart disease in Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from June 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2019 were included.The general information and clinical data of them were retrospectively analyzed. Results: There were 17 cases including 8 males and 9 females who underwent ECMO after congenital cardiac surgery. Their age and weight ranged respectively from 13 days to 11 months and from 2.8 to 6.9 kg (average, 4.7±1.2 kg). Four cases underwent ECMO due to postoperative low cardiac output and cardiac arrest, and other 13 cases were transferred to ECMO due to poor cardiac function and failure to stop cardiopulmonary bypass. ECMO support time was 13 hours to 26 days. As a result, 11 infants (64.7%) were successfully weaned from ECMO and 8 infants (47.1%) were discharged from hospital. Nine cases died or gave up the treatment. Seven cases (41.2%)underwent secondary thoracotomy for hemostasis.Three infants (17.6%) due to renal insufficiency underwent membrane replacement. Six infants (35.3%) underwent perytoneal dialysis. Pulmonary infection occurred in 5 cases (23.5%), including 1 case (5.9%) with severe systemic infection and positive blood culture (Acinetobacter baumannii). Three cases (17.6%) had multiple organ dysfunction and 3 cases (17.6%) had gastrointestinal hemorrhage. All the 4 cases who underwent ECMO in ICU died. Conclusion: ECMO is an important life support method for infants with heart failure after heart surgery. The key to successful treatment is to grasp the indications, shorten the operation time and prevent the related complications.