PROSPECTIVE, CONTROLLED-STUDY OF DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME IN SURVIVORS OF EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE-OXYGENATION - THE FIRST 24 MONTHS

Objective. Survivors of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenati on (ECMO) are considered to be at risk for developmental disabilities, but there are few controlled outcome studies. A prospective, controll ed study of outcome was performed to quantify the degree and frequency of developmental disabilities in ECMO survivors compared with a match ed control group. Methods. From May 1987 through November 1990, 40 of 47 neonates treated with ECMO survived at the University of Texas Medi cal Branch in Galveston. Longitudinal developmental data were collecte d, using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, on 22 ECMO infants a nd 29 healthy term control infants at 6, 12, and 24 months. Language w as assessed at 24 months using the Sequenced Inventory of Communicatio n Development. An additional 13 ECMO infants had developmental data fo r at least one time point. Results. Healthy term infants performed sig nificantly better than ECMO infants on the Bayley Scales of Infant Dev elopment at 6 and 24 months and on the Sequenced Inventory of Communic ation Development at 24 months. Mean scores of ECMO infants were well within the average range and 77% of the ECMO infants were developmenta lly normal. Conclusions. These data suggest that early developmental m orbidity in ECMO survivors is low, considering the severity of their n eonatal illness.