Jl. Mathias et al., PSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOME OF ECMO-ELIGIBLE NEONATES WITH SEVERE RESPIRATORY-FAILURE TREATED USING CONVENTIONAL MEDICAL THERAPY, Journal of paediatrics and child health, 31(5), 1995, pp. 440-445
Objective: The present study addressed a National Health and Medical R
esearch Council (NHMRC) recommendation that the outcome of neonates wh
o are treated conventionally for respiratory problems be further inves
tigated before setting up additional extracorporeal membrane oxygenati
on (ECMO) centres in Australia. Methodology: The cognitive and behavio
ural outcome of ECMO eligible infants who received conventional treatm
ent for respiratory problems at birth was assessed in 18 infants aged
1.5-3 years (index group). ECMO was not available at either of the tre
ating hospitals. Index children were compared to a matched control gro
up of children who did not experience any major complications at birth
. Children were assessed using either the Bayley or McCarthy scales of
infant development and the Child Behavior Checklist. Results: Overall
, a mortality rate of 19% and a psychological morbidity rate of 18% su
ggest that children born with severe respiratory failure, who meet exi
sting ECMO eligibility criteria, have a good prognosis when treated us
ing conventional medical therapy. Conclusions: Improvements to convent
ional treatments indicate that ECMO eligibility criteria may need to b
e revised to identify accurately those infants who are at extreme risk
of mortality if treated conventionally.