Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pediatric cardiovascular care: Experience of a center in Argentina

Objective: To describe the results of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients undergoing heart surgery and analyze the risk factors for morbidity and mortality. Methods: Retrospective study conducted in cardiac patients under circulatory support. Outcome measures, diagnosis, surgery, Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS) score, implantation time, cannulation, length of support during stay, complications, survival, and follow-up were recorded. Risks were analyzed in relation to age, weight, RACHS score, single-ventricle or biventricular disease, implantation time, length of support and stay, and complications. Descriptive statistical and logistic regression analyses for risk factors were done. Results: Among 5295 hospitalizations, 72 patients required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (1.37 %). Median age: 6.5 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 20 days-2 years); weight: 5.5 kg (IQR: 3.25-9.5); pump time: 188 min (IQR: 134-246.5); clamp time: 92 min (65-117). Cannulation was done in the operating room in 34 cases (47 %). The median length of support was 3 days (IQR: 2-5), and of stay, 20 days (IQR: 11-32). Survival at discharge was 49 %; 8 patients died during follow-up. The most common complication was bleeding (57 %). Weight < 5 kg (p = 0.01) and vasopressor use during support (p = 0.012) were associated with a risk for mortality. The survival rate at 10 years was 77 %; 84 % of patients corresponded to functional class 1-2, and 37 % had some degree of developmental delay. Conclusions: The most common complication was bleeding; weight and vasopressor use were associated with mortality.