ECMO in Neonatal and Pediatric Populations Flashcards
6 cards from real ECMO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 ECMO in Neonatal and Pediatric Populations flashcards as text
What is the minimum gestational age generally accepted as a criterion for neonatal ECMO candidacy?
Answer: 34 weeks
Most centers require ≥34 weeks gestational age because premature neonates face prohibitively high rates of intracranial hemorrhage on ECMO anticoagulation.
What is the most common indication for ECMO in neonates in the United States?
Answer: Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS)
Meconium aspiration syndrome causing severe respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension is the most frequent neonatal ECMO indication in the US.
Which ECMO configuration is most commonly used in neonates requiring support?
Answer: Veno-arterial (VA) ECMO via neck vessels
Neonatal VA-ECMO via the right internal jugular vein and right common carotid artery provides both cardiac and respiratory support through accessible neck vessels.
The oxygenation index (OI) threshold commonly used to consider ECMO in neonates is:
Answer: >40
An OI >40 (calculated as MAP × FiO2 × 100 / PaO2) on two or more blood gases indicates severe respiratory failure warranting ECMO consideration.
What minimum body weight is typically required for neonatal ECMO candidacy at most US centers?
Answer: 2.0 kg
A weight of at least 2.0 kg is the typical threshold because smaller neonates have vessels too small to cannulate safely without causing severe ischemia.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) patients typically require longer ECMO runs than MAS patients because:
Answer: CDH lungs have structural hypoplasia that cannot reverse quickly
CDH causes pulmonary hypoplasia with reduced alveolar and vascular development, requiring prolonged support (often 2–3 weeks) for lung maturation.