Intra-operative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use in pediatric lung transplantation--the Zurich experience.

There is a lack of data regarding use of ECMO in children undergoing lung transplantation. We evaluated our experience of ECMO in pediatric lung transplant recipients. All patients (<18 yr) who underwent lung transplants between 1997 and 2011 were included (17 children; nine males; median age 16 yr), and the use of intra-operative ECMO evaluated.

Practical approach to emergencies in lung transplant recipients: how we do it.

Lung transplant recipients (LTRs) are prone to medical complications and emergencies due to the transplanted organ being in constant direct contact with the environment and the need for life-long profound immunosuppression (IS). As a result of these specific circumstances, the medical and surgical management of LTRs frequently differs from usual standard care. Therefore, we outline here some of the principles we take into account when dealing with the most frequent medical emergencies encountered in our lung transplant cohort in Zurich.