The use of ECMO to treat infection in paediatric patients

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in term babies with severe but potentially reversible respiratory failure results in significantly improved survival without increased risk of severe disability. This article describes a case series of children referred for sepsis to a tertiary referral centre for ECMO over an eight-year period. The age range of the patients was between zero days and 16 years; two babies were referred in the first week of life. In most cases there was a quick onset of respiratory failure and/or multi-organ failure; the survival rate was 45%.