Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Pertussis: Does How and When Impact Survival?

Abstract

Introduction: Children requiring ECLS for acute respiratory failure from critical pertussis pneumonia have an extremely poor prognosis. The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of clinical factors including initial ECLS mode (VV-venovenous or VA-venoarterial) and duration of pre-ECLS mechanical ventilation on outcome in this critically ill patient population. Methods: The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization’s registry was retrospectively queried for pediatric patients (age 30 days to 18 years) with the diagnosis of pertussis from 1986 to 2012. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were extracted. Only first runs were included. Patients were divided into survivors and non-s..