The Role of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the Management of Infants with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Many infants with CDH can be managed with conventional mechanical ventilation and pharmacotherapy. However, some infants will require levels of ventilator support that are not compatible with survival. In these circumstances, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used with varying results. The indication, type, and timing of ECMO in relation to surgery continue to evolve in an attempt to improve the outcome. At the same time, there is growing body of literature showing adverse outcomes among infants with CDH treated with ECMO, raising questions about the usefulness of ECMO in CDH. This paper reviews some of the controversies associated with the use of ECMO in CDH.