The numerical value of fluid balance to predict survival in neonates requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: To understand numerical variation of fluid balance in neonates requiring Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and to assess the relationship between hourly fluid balance and mortality. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study. All neonates supported by ECMO were enrolled from October 2011 to September 2017. All of the enrolled neonates were divided into survival group and non- survival group. The numerical value of fluid balance of the enrolled neonates were recorded at 6h, 12h, 24h, 36h and 48h after initiation of ECMO respectively. The differences between the two groups were compared. The numerical value of fluid balance predict survival by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Forty- eight neonates were enrolled, in which 35 cases were survival and the survival rate was 72.9%. The numerical value of fluid balance in the survival group were lower than that in the non-survival group at 6h, 12h, 24h, 36h and 48h after ECMO(all P < 0.05). The area under ROC curve at 6h, 12h, 24h, 36h and 48h after initiation of ECMO was 0.835, 0.900, 0.839, 0.909 and 0.974 respectively. There were statistically significant in the numerical value of fluid balance predicting survival (all P < 0.05) and a high sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value at the each time point. CONCLUSIONS: The negative hourly fluid balance were associated with decreased mortality, and the lower the numerical value of fluid balance in neonates requiring ECMO, the higher the survival rate.