Use of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in 14 months old child with acute respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is used in pediatric patients with ARDS in recent 20 years with survival rate from 50 to 67% Venovenous ECLS was used in 1 year 2 months old patient with ARDS and pneumonia developed in postoperative period after gastral esophagoplasty. Purposes of ECLS use were stabilization child's condition and normalization of gas composition of blood with relative lungs repose. Indications for ECLS were increasing respiratory failure, hypoxemia, low respiratory index (PaO2/FiO2 ratio 47.3), alveolar-arterial gradient of oxygen (A-aDO) 630 mmHg and absence of positive effect from high frequency oscillation (HFO).ECLS was used in 1 year 2 months old patient with ARDS and bilateral pneumonia developed in postoperative period after gastral esophagoplasty. Deltasteam system (Medos Medizintechnik AG, Germany) with centrifugal pump and servoregulation of blood flow pressure was used for ECLS. Double-lumen cannula with size 12 French was used ECLS was instituted via right internal jugular vein.The patient did not have expressed heart failure. Thus preference was given to venovenous ECLS and not to venoarterial ECLS. Duration of ECLS use was 72 hours. Auscultation parameters and gas exchange improved haemodynamics stabilized parameters of biochemical and haematological analysis normalized and the dynamics x-ray examination was positive after the ECLS use. Patient was decannulated and extubated.Venovenous ECLS was an only way of life support in child with heavy ARDS and pneumonia developed in postoperative period More observations are needed for more thorough analysis and recommendations.