Improved Outcome of Cardiac Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Infants and Children Using Magnetic Levitation Centrifugal Pumps.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ( ECMO) has traditionally been and, for the most part, still is being performed using roller pumps. Use of first-generation centrifugal pumps has yielded controversial outcomes, perhaps due to mechanical properties of the same and the ensuing risk of hemolysis and renal morbidity. Latest-generation centrifugal pumps, using magnetic levitation (ML), exhibit mechanical properties which may have overcome limitations of first-generation devices. This retrospective study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of veno-arterial ( V- A) ECMO for cardiac indications in neonates, infants, and children, using standard ( SP) and latest-generation ML centrifugal pumps. Between 2002 and 2014, 33 consecutive neonates, infants, and young children were supported using V- A ECMO for cardiac indications. There were 21 males and 12 females, with median age of 29 days (4 days-5 years) and a median body weight of 3.2 kg (1.9-18 kg). Indication for V- A ECMO were acute circulatory collapse in ICU or ward after cardiac repair in 16 (49%) patients, failure to wean after repair of complex congenital heart disease in 9 (27%), fulminant myocarditis in 4 (12%), preoperative sepsis in 2 (6%), and refractory tachy-arrhythmias in 2 (6%). Central cannulation was used in 27 (81%) patients and peripheral in 6. Seven (21%) patients were supported with SP and 26 (79%) with ML centrifugal pumps. Median duration of support was 82 h (range 24-672 h), with 26 (79%) patients weaned from support. Three patients required a second ECMO run but died on support. Seventeen (51%) patients required peritoneal dialysis for acute renal failure. Overall survival to discharge was 39% (13/33 patients). All patients with fulminant myocarditis and with refractory arrhythmias were weaned, and five (83%) survived, whereas no patient supported for sepsis survived. Risk factors for hospital mortality included lower (<2.5 kg) body weight ( P = 0.02) and rescue ECMO after cardiac repair ( P = 0.03). During a median follow-up of 34 months (range 4-62 months), there were three (23%) late deaths and two late survivors with neurological sequelae. Weaning rate (5/7 vs. 21/26, P = NS) and prevalence of renal failure requiring dialysis (4/7 vs. 13/26, P = NS) were comparable between SP and ML ECMO groups. Patients supported with ML had a trend toward higher hospital survival (1/7 vs. 12/26, P = 0.07) and significantly higher late survival (0/7 vs. 10/26, P = 0.05). The present experience shows that V- A ECMO for cardiac indications using centrifugal pumps in infants and children yields outcomes absolutely comparable to international registry ( ELSO) data using mostly roller pumps. Although changes in practice may have contributed to these results, use of ML centrifugal pumps appears to further improve end-organ recovery and hospital and late survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]