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Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving treatment option providing cardiopulmonary support when standard therapies prove insufficient for reversible diseases. The mean objective of this study was to evaluate our center’s experience with ECMO following pediatric cardiac surgery. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between November 2014 and March 2021 and included patients who received ECMO following cardiac surgery. Results: Over the 7-year period, 324 patients underwent cardiac surgery, of which 24 (7.4%) required ECMO support. Among them, 13 (54.2%) were female, with a median age of 16.0 (2.0-208) months and a median weight of 7.0 (3.5-70) kg. The mean vasoactive inotrope score (VIS) was 53.9 ± 44.5. Atrioventricular septal defect repair was the most common surgical procedure (n = 8/24, 41.6%). The primary indication for ECMO was low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) in 14 (58.3%) patients. The median duration of ECMO support was 6.0 (1.0-46.0) days. Nonsurvivors had significantly higher Pediatric Risk Score of Mortality (PRISM) III scores (P = .014) and VIS scores during the pre-ECMO period (P = .004). Early or late neurological complications developed in 12 (50%) patients, with significant differences in lactate levels and pH levels pre-ECMO between those with and without neurological complications (P = .01, P = .02, respectively). We successfully decannulated 16 (66.6%) patients, with a final survival rate of 12 (50%). Conclusion: ECMO plays a crucial role in providing pre- and post-cardiac surgery support for children. LCOS remains the main indication, and high PRISM III and VIS scores are valuable predictors of outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is defined as the venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support in a patient who experienced a sudden pulseless condition attributable to cessation of cardiac mechanical activity and circulation. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of our ECPR experience in a pediatric patient population. Materials and methods: Between September 2014 and November 2017, 15 children were supported with ECPR following in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) in our hospitals. VA-ECMO setting was established for all patients. Pediatric cerebral performance category (PCPC) scales and long-term neurological prognosis of the survivors were assessed. Results: The median age of the study population was 60 (4–156) months. The median weight was 18 (4.8–145) kg, height was 115 (63–172) cm, and body surface area was 0.73 (0.27–2.49) m² . The cause of cardiac arrest was a cardiac and circulatory failure in 12 patients (80%) and noncardiac causes in 20%. Dysrhythmia was present in 46%, septic shock in 13%, bleeding in 6%, low cardiac output syndrome in 13%, and airway disease in 6% of the study population. Median low-flow time was 95 (range 20–320) min. Central VAECMO cannulation was placed in only 2 (13.3%) cases. However, the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was obtained in 10 (66.6%) patients, and 5 (50%) of them survived. Overall, 5 patients were discharged from the hospital. Finally, survival following ECPR was 33.3%, and all survivors were neurologically intact at hospital-discharge. Conclusion: ECPR can be a life-saving therapeutic strategy using a promising technology in the pediatric IHCA population. Early initiation and a well-coordinated, skilled, and dedicated ECMO team are the mainstay for better survival rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]