الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract critical illness with severe pulmonary or cardiac failure is associated with high mortality. Advances in lungprotective strategies and cardiac assist devices 1, 2 have helped to improve survival for patients with lung or heart failure. However, even if evidenced-based best practices are followed, mortality rates can still be as high as 30 to 40% for patients with ARDS and 50% for patients with cardiac failure. 3 Although initially introduced for the support of infants with severe respiratory failure, (ECMO) has gradually become the standard of care for the support of patients with complications of many forms of congenital heart disease. The ability to support both a patient‘s circulation and gas exchange has allowed many patients with transient cardiopulmonary failure to survive after complex repairs or with severe physiologic derangement such as pulmonary hypertension. 4 It has become essential tool in the care of adults and children with severe cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction refractory to conventional management. 5, 6 Nowadays ECMO has become more reliable with improvement in equipment, and increased experience, which is reflected in improving results. |