Outcome in neonates with congenital heart disease referred for respiratory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Aim: To evaluate the proportion of neonates referred for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support in the modern era of advanced conventional treatments for respiratory failure who actually had congenital heart disease (CHD), and to assess the impact of this diagnostic route on patient condition and outcome.

Methods: A retrospective case-note review of neonatal ECMO and cardiac admissions to a single, tertiary ECMO and cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) between March 1999 and February 2002.

Results: 287 symptomatic neonates presented to the ICU with previously undiagnosed cardiac or respiratory disease.