Late death after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for congenital diaphragmatic hernia

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the long-term outcome of neonates who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for respiratory insufficiency associated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). METHODS: All neonates born with CDH, who required ECMO (oxygenation index over 40 in the presence of maximal support) during a 6-year period, were reviewed. The median duration of follow-up for survivors was 14 months (range, 9 to 22 months). RESULTS: Of 72 neonates with CDH, 11 (15%) required ECMO. The median age at the start of ECMO was 2 days (range, 1 to 4); duration was 9 days (range, 4 to 17); post-ECMO ventilation was 27 days (range, 8 to 86); and stay in intensive care unit, 33 days (range, 8 to 133). Three patients survived and are not oxygen dependent. There were three early deaths at 9 to 16 days and five late deaths at a median of 6 months (range, 2 to 32 months) secondary to chronic lung disease (n = 3) and infection (n = 2). Four of the five patients with late deaths were oxygen dependent at discharge from hospital. Three of the late death patients and one survivor underwent a fundoplication for gastrooesophageal reflux. CONCLUSIONS: Neonates born with CDH and requiring ECMO had a significant late mortality. Follow-up for more than 1 year is indicated to assess the benefit of ECMO for this diagnosis. The authors report only three long-term survivors from 11 ECMO patients selected from a total of 72 neonates with CDH.