Neonatal paracorporeal lung assist device for respiratory failure.

Abstract

Neonates who experience respiratory failure despite maximal ventilatory support have only extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a rescue therapy, but it has very poor outcomes as a bridge to transplantation. A pumpless lung-assist device has been used in adults as a bridge to lung transplantation. An alternative membrane oxygenator, the Quadrox iD, is a suitable size for neonatal blood flow. Here we report the use of the Quadrox iD membrane oxygenator with central cannulation as a paracorporeal respiratory support therapy for a neonate with alveolar capillary dysplasia awaiting lung transplantation.