VENOUS THROMBOSIS IN AND AFTER EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE-OXYGENATION - DETECTION AND FOLLOW-UP BY COLOR DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY

The purpose of our study was to evaluate thrombosis of venous vessels during and after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) using colo r Doppler sonography. We prospectively performed serial color Doppler sonography investigations in 30 ECMO patients [age: newborn to 3 years , male:female = 20:10, venoarterial (VA) ECMO = 18, venovenous (VV) EC MO = 12]. During ECMO obstruction and/or thrombosis of the superior ve na cava (SVC) was observed in 2 neonates on VA ECMO. Furthermore, a th rombotic clot from an initially open duct of Arantii with partial port al vein thrombosis, reaching into the inferior vena cava (IVC), occurr ed despite adequate heparinization. After ECMO, late septic SVC thromb us occurred in one neonate. IVC thrombus was observed in two pediatric VV ECMO patients. ?fie overall incidence of venous clots was 20 % (6 of 30). Routine color Doppler sonography monitoring of vessels in chil dren on and after ECMO was found to be useful for early detection of v enous thrombosis. It enabled consequent administration of appropriate therapy as well as follow-up after decannulation and reconstruction.