Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support in Children With Hematological Malignancies in Sweden.

Ranta, Susanna; Kalzén, Håkan; Nilsson, Anna; von Schewelov, Katarina; Broman, Lars M; Berner, Jonas; Fläring, Urban; Norén-Nyström, Ulrika; Svahn, Johan E; Palle, Josefine; Törnudd, Lisa; Karlsson, Lene; Mellgren, Karin; Abrahamsson, Jonas; Harila-Saari, Arja

BACKGROUND Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used in severe respiratory and/or circulatory failure when conventional critical care fails. Studies on patients with hematological malignancies on ECMO have shown contradictory results; immunosuppression and coagulopathy are relative contraindications to ECMO. OBSERVATIONS This nationwide Swedish retrospective chart review identified 958 children with hematological malignancies of whom 12 (1.3%) required ECMO support. Eight patients survived ECMO, 7 the total intensive care period, and 6 survived the underlying malignancy. CONCLUSIONS ECMO may be considered in children with hematological malignancy. Short-term and long-term survival, in this limited group, was similar to that of children on ECMO at large.