Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory septic shock in children: One institution's experience

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: To report our institutional experience of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in children with septic shock and circulatory collapse. DESIGN:: Retrospective case series. SETTING:: Intensive care unit of a tertiary pediatric referral center. PATIENTS:: Forty-five children with refractory septic shock who received venoarterial ECMO for hemodynamic support. INTERVENTIONS:: Venoarterial ECMO. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:: We measured mean arterial pressure and inotropes before cannulation, ventilator settings, oxygenation, site and cause of infection, time on ECMO, complications of ECMO relating to the circuit or anticoagulation, survival to hospital discharge, ..