Arterial morphology after pediatric cannulation for extracorporeal life support
Arterial morphology after pediatric ECMO
What is the goal of the study?
Every year we place thousands of infants and children on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to support heart and lung function during critical illness; more than 2 out of 3 patients undergo arterial cannulation, and only half survive to hospital discharge. But what happens to those children who survive? We have loads of data on overall outcomes and some data on disease specific long-term survival and impairment. Yet we have shockingly few data points on what happens to the cannulated arteries. A few case series have demonstrated an approximately 50% stenosis/occlusion rate within short interval follow-up when arteries are reconstructed after decannulation, but only one series has been published examining artery morphology in longer term follow-up. Based on that study, and the principles of arterial injury causing intimal changes, we hypothesize that a significant proportion of patients who have undergone carotid or femoral artery ECMO cannulation during infancy and childhood are at elevated risk for stroke or limb growth impairment, respectively, in young adulthood and later. We further speculate that identification of such patients may allow us to provide meaningful clinical guidance to mitigate this risk.
Who can participate in the study?
Please contact the study team listed below to learn more.