Standard Versus Restrictive Transfusion Strategy for Pediatric Cardiac ECLS Patients: Single Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare blood component transfusion before and after the implementation of a restrictive transfusion strategy (RTS) in pediatric cardiac Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) patients. The study included children admitted to the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU) at the Stollery Children's Hospital who received ECLS between 2012 and 2020. Children on ECLS between 2012 and 2016 were treated with standard transfusion strategy (STS), while those on ECLS between 2016 and 2020 were treated with RTS.

Supporting pediatric patients with short-term continuous-flow devices.

Background: Short-term continuous-flow ventricular assist devices (STCF-VADs) are increasingly being used in the pediatric population. However, little is known about the outcomes in patients supported with these devices.

Methods: All pediatric patients supported with a STCF-VAD, including the Thoratec PediMag or CentriMag, or the Maquet RotaFlow, between January 2005 and May 2014, were included in this retrospective single-center study.

Survival and neurocognitive outcomes after cardiac extracorporeal life support in children less than 5 years of age: a ten-year cohort.

Background: Survival after pediatric cardiac extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is guarded, and neurological morbidity varies widely. Our objective is to report our 10-year experience with cardiac ECLS, including survival and kindergarten entry neurocognitive outcomes; to identify predictors of mortality or adverse neurocognitive outcomes; and to compare 2 eras, before and after 2005.

Methods And Results: From 2000 to 2009, 98 children had venoarterial cardiac ECLS.

Plasma fatty acid levels in children during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support--a pilot study.

Plasma fatty acids levels are markedly elevated in patients with myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury including those after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). High levels of fatty acids have detrimental effects on myocardial function. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is like CPB, but much longer, to provide a life-saving support for patients with cardiac arrest.