Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Bridge to Heart Transplantation Among Children in the United States

Abstract

Although ECMO is effective for short-term circulatory support, it is not reliable for the long-term circulatory support necessary for children awaiting heart transplantation. Fewer than half of patients bridged with ECMO survive to hospital discharge. More effective modalities for chronic circulatory support in children are urgently needed.