Evaluation of post extracorporeal membrane oxygenation follow-up testing.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate all post extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) tests for their ability to detect any change in the incidence of unanticipated medical problems, and their charge to the patient. The current post ECMO protocol consists of the following tests: brain stem auditory evoked response, head computed tomography, cerebral blood flow, head ultrasonography, electroencephalography, eye examination for retinopathy of prematurity, and pneumocardiography. A retrospective review was conducted for all surviving neonatal ECMO patients treated from January, 1985, to December, 1994.

Specimen collection and preparation in fine-needle aspirations in children.

Fine-needle aspiration is of proven benefit in the pediatric population. For the procedure to be of maximum benefit, several aspects unique to children and pediatric lesions must be taken into account. Based on the experience of approximately 2,500 fine-needle aspirations performed in children over a 17-year period, we discuss techniques pertaining to specimen collection and preparation, including adequate control of the patient and selective triage of aspirates.

Survival of patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia during the ECMO era: an 11-year experience.

Background/purpose: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. To evaluate the impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on survival, a review of our experience with CDH patients was initiated.

Methods: The authors performed a retrospective nonrandomized analysis of 98 consecutive CDH patients who were ECMO candidates, and were symptomatic within the first day of life, and underwent repair between May 1985 and May 1996.

Invasive candidiasis in infants weighing more than 2500 grams at birth admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit.

Background: Because invasive candidiasis in newborn infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) occurs most frequently in very low birth weight infants, the incidence of invasive candidiasis and its clinical features in infants > 2500 g birth weight have not been well-described.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all infants with birth weight > 2500 g admitted to our NICU from 1986 through 1993 who developed invasive candidiasis during their hospitalization.

Results: Seventeen of 3033 (0.