The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in children with acute fulminant myocarditis

• Main Authors: Silver Heinsar, Sainath Raman, Jacky Y. Suen, Hwa Jin Cho, John F. Fraser
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Korean Pediatric Society 2021-05-01
• Series: Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• Subjects: myocarditis; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; critical care; child
• Online Access: http://www.e-cep.org/upload/pdf/cep-2020-00836.pdf

Acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) occurs as an inflammatory response to an initial myocardial insult. Its rapid and deadly progression calls for prompt diagnosis with aggressive treatment measures. The demonstration of its excellent recovery potential has led to increasing use of mechanical circulatory support, especially extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Arrhythmias, organ failure, elevated cardiac biomarkers, and decreased ventricular function at presentation predict requirement for ECMO. In these patients, ECMO should be considered earlier as the clinical course of AFM can be unpredictable and can lead to rapid haemodynamic collapse. Key uncertainties that clinicians face when managing children with AFM such as timing of initiation of ECMO and left ventricular decompression need further investigation.