Chapter 26 - Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and related technologies

Summary

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been described as a useful technique in the treatment of tracheal injuries or stenosis and even as the pulmonary support of choice in lung transplantation. The use of ECMO stems from the belief that ventilation of the lung with high pressures and high FiO2 does cause trauma to the delicate tissues of the lung. The technique of ECMO is designed to provide adequate oxygen delivery to the patient when the lungs have failed. The usual indications for ECMO in the case of neonates include meconium aspiration syndrome, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, group B streptococcal pneumonia, persistent fetal circulation, and congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The duration of ECMO is between 3-7 days and a majority of the patients who survive will have lung function in their first year post-transplant that is comparable with those patients who were not treated with ECMO.