Prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO):

A. Is highly successful in the treatment of severe respiratory failure in newborn infants.

DISCUSSION: The survival rate of newborn infants who are moribund from respiratory failure with ECMO is 80% to 90%. ECMO is also indicated in ARDS with a survival rate from 40% to 50%. Hemolysis and renal failure are rare complications. ECMO requires low-dose partial heparinization, with clotting times in the range of 200 seconds. Several modifications in the conventional heart/lung machine permit the extension of ECMO from hours to days.