Decreased use of neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): How new treatment modalities have affected ECMO utilization

Objective: Over the last decade, several new therapies, including high-freq uency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV), exogenous surfactant therapy, and inh aled nitric oxide (iNO), have become available for the treatment of neonata l hypoxemic respiratory failure. The purpose of this retrospective study wa s to ascertain to what extent these modalities have impacted the use of neo natal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) at our institution. Methods. Patients from 2 time periods were evaluated: May 1, 1993 to Novemb er 1, 1994 (group 1) and May 1, 1996 to November 1, 1997 (group 2). During the first time period (group 1), HFOV was not consistently used; beractant (Survanta) use for meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), and pneumonia was under investigation; and iNO was not yet available. During the second time period (group 2), HF OV and beractant treatment were considered to be standard therapies, and iN O was available to patients with oxygenation index (OI) greater than or equ al to 25 x 2 at least 30 minutes apart, or on compassionate use basis. Pati ents were included in the data collection if they met the following entry c riteria: 1) OI >15 x 1 within the first 72 hours of admission; 2) EGA great er than or equal to 35 weeks; 3) diagnosis of MAS, PPHN or sepsis/pneumonia ; 4) <5 days of age on admission; and 5) no congenital heart disease, diaph ragmatic hernia, or lethal congenital anomaly. Results. Of the 49 patient in group 1, 21 (42.8%) required ECMO therapy. Of these ECMO patients, 14 (66.6%) had received diagnoses of MAS or PPHN. Onl y 3 of the patients that went on to ECMO received beractant before the init iation of bypass (14.3%). All ECMO patients in group 1 would have met crite ria for iNO had it been available. Of all patients in group 1, 18 (36.7%) w ere treated with HFOV, and 13 (26.5%) received beractant. Of the 47 patient s in group 2, only 13 (27.7%) required ECMO therapy (compared with group 1) . Of these ECMO patients, only 5 (38.5%) had diagnoses of MAS or PPHN, with the majority of patients (61.5%) requiring ECMO for sepsis/pneumonia, with significant cardiovascular compromise. Only 5 of these ECMO patients, all outborn, did not receive iNO before cannulation because of the severity of their clinical status on admission. Of all patients in group 2, 41 (87.2%) were treated with HFOV (compared with group 1), 42 (89.3%) received beracta nt (compared with group 1), and 18 (44.7%) received iNO. Conclusions. The results indicate that ECMO was used less frequently when H FOV, beractant and iNO was more commonly used. The differences in treatment modalities used and subsequent use of ECMO were statistically significant. We speculate that, in this patient population, the diagnostic composition of neonatal ECMO patients has changed over time.