EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE-OXYGENATION - TREATMENT OF LIFE-THREATENING RESPIRATORY-FAILURE IN THE NEWBORN

The treatment of neonates suffering from life-threatening respiratory failure using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) involves an invasive, but in numerous cases life-saving, therapeutic procedure. In neonates whose underlying disease is reversible, this form of treatment permits the temporary ''replacement'' of the child's non-functional lungs. By resting the lungs, the underlying disease can usually heal within a matter of days. The indication, outcome and technical details of the procedure are described. A case report from our own hospital is presented to demonstrate the life-saving use of the method.