Successful Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Neonate With Arterial pH Less Than 6.6

• Published in: World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 466 - 469
• Main Authors: Boon Lim, Joel Kian, Lee, Jan Hau, Mok, Yee Hui, Chan, Yoke Hwee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-07-2015
• Subjects: Acidosis - blood; Acidosis - etiology; Acidosis - therapy; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation - methods; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Infant, Newborn; Male; Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome - blood; Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome - complications; Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome - therapy; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; neonate; persistent pulmonary hypertension; acidosis
• ISSN: 2150-1351; 2150-136X
• DOI: 10.1177/2150135114558849

Challenges in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support include defining appropriate patient selection criteria and prognostic factors. Severe acidosis prior to ECMO deployment is often considered a relative contraindication and an independent predictor of mortality. We present a case of a term infant, with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn with severe pre-ECMO acidosis (arterial blood pH 6.596) in whom venoarterial ECMO was instituted successfully without major circuit or patient-associated complications. At seven months of age, he exhibited age-appropriate neurodevelopmental milestones. We therefore report this instance of successful use of ECMO in the setting of extreme acidosis.