An overview of medical ECMO for neonates

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a life-saving therapy for respiratory and cardiac failure, was first used in neonates in the 1970s. The indications and criteria for ECMO have changed over the years, but it continues to be an important option for those who have failed other medical therapies. Since the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry was established in 1989, more than 29,900 neonates have been placed on ECMO for respiratory failure, with 84% surviving their ECMO course, and 73% surviving to discharge or transfer. In this chapter, we will review the basics of ECMO, patient characteristics and criteria, patient management, ECMO complications, special uses of neonatal ECMO, and patient outcomes.