Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Saving tiny lives.

Abstract

Infants with CDH require a dedicated nursing team that often comes from three different critical care areas: neonatal ICU, the ECMO unit, and the operating room. The team works together to directly affect the outcome of these infants through their preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care. The physiologic status of the patient and the psychosocial aspects of the family unit are of prime concern to the nursing team involved. Controversy still surrounds the use of ECMO because long-term effects on its survivors are unknown. It will be important for members of the team that manages the infant diagnosed with CDH to understand the benefits and limitations of ECMO. Even with its controversial aspects, ECMO offers the infant with CDH an alternative when conventional therapy fails. The collaborative efforts of the multidisciplinary team that manages these neonates must continue to evaluate treatment modalities and update techniques to maintain quality of care for this challenging population.