Swedish experiences with ECMO--treatment with an artificial lung

ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) involves long term treatment in a modified heart lung machine. It is used in the treatment of patients with extremely severe, acute respiratory distress in order to provide gas exchange through an extracorporeal artificial oxygenator. From 1987 until March 2003, 200 patients have been treated in this center. 104 were neonates, 50 older children and 46 adults. Meconium aspiration syndrome and congenital diaphragmatic hernia were the most common diagnoses among neonates, whereas pneumonia was the most frequent in older children and adults. In total 140 patients (70 per cent) survived until discharge or referral. The survival rate was higher among neonates (80 per cent) than older children (54 per cent) and adults (65 per cent). ECMO has been concluded to be life saving in selected cases of extremely severe acute respiratory failure.