Outcome of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia who receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy

Background/Purpose: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an accept ed therapy for acute respiratory failure but more recently has been used in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and superimposed acute pulmo nary insults. The purpose of this study was to review the outcomes of such infants. Methods: Charts of infants at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP ) who had a diagnosis of BPD before ECMO were reviewed. In addition, to obt ain survival data in a larger population, the Extracorporeal Life Support O rganization (ELSO) Registry was searched for infants with BPD before ECMO. Results: Of 204 patients who received noncardiac ECMO at CHOP, 9 had BPD be fore ECMO. Of 7 survivors, 4 were still ventilator dependent at 9 to 39 mon ths of corrected age. Developmentally, 4 had significant global delays, whe reas 3 had significant language and motor delays with average to mildly del ayed cognitive abilities. The ELSO Registry search showed 76 patients with BPD before ECMO, with a 78% survival. Conclusions: The survival rate of infants with BPD who receive ECHO is comp arable to, or better than, the survival rates in most other ECMO population s. However, there appears to be a high risk of severe pulmonary and neurode velopmental sequelae. Copyright (C) 2001 by W B. Saunders Company.