Rapid-response extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to support failed conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR) 

in children – case reports and literature review

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to support failed conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation e.g. ECMO cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR) in children has been increasing. We report on the first three patients in whom E-CPR was used at our institution, a low volume surgical centre. Patient’s diagnoses were: influenza B myocarditis, truncus arteriosus two days after complete surgical repair and cardiogenic shock during adenovirus infection with a disco-vered recoarctation of the aorta. The use of E-CPR rescued 1 patient (33%) out of three. Apart from high volume surgical centres, E-CPR can also be implemented in low volume centres with a trained in-house ECMO team, in selected cases.

cardiopulmonary resus-citation, child, extracorporeal mem-brane oxygenation, refractory cardi-ac arrest

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