P0502 / #2098: IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC ON CARE AND REHABILITATION OF CHILDREN WHO SURVIVED EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION (ECMO).

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: To identify indirect impact of COVID-19 pandemic on rehabilitation of paediatric ECMO survivors METHODS: ECMO-survivors who were 6-12 months post-discharge between Feb-August2020 were prospectively followed up via newly set-up secure videocall clinics between June-August 2020 by biprofessional team (physiotherapist and ECMO physician) using visual inspection,PEDICAT (Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory- Computer Adaptive Test) neurodevelopmental questionnaire and parental PHQ-9(Patient Health questionnaire-9) for depression plus GAD-7(General Anxiety Disorder-7)questionnaires Impact of pandemic on planned follow-up and investigations, neurodevelopment, psychology of carers, readmissions/delayed presentations was observed RESULTS: 10 ECMO survivors (median age 25months) were reviewed between February2020 to August2020 6(60%) children had not received any face-to-face or virtual physiotherapy therapy input for >3 months due to cancellation of non-essential services during COVID-19 pandemic They remain on the waiting list to receive intensive physiotherapy despite ease of lockdown in June 7(70%) children have not had planned audiology assessment,4 children have not had neurology review nor neuro-imaging as planned 4 children continued to show moderate neurodevelopment delay, with no improvement of paediatric overall performance category (POPC) since hospital discharge 2 parents scored high for post-traumatic anxiety/stress, prompting clinical psychology referral No children had delayed presentation for acute illnesses 2 children had a drop in acute admissions since lockdown CONCLUSIONS: Setting up virtual ECMO follow-up clinics enabled us to identify crucial follow-up care delayed by COVID-19 pandemic and bring it up-to-date Children with narrow timeframes of neuroplasticity were disadvantaged due to cancellation/postponement of non-essential services It would be prudent to plan for post-discharge care delivery in advance of a second wave