The Neonatal and Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Program

• ECMO is a form of prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass.
• ECMO provides cardiopulmonary support for infants and children in cardiac and/or respiratory failure unresponsive to maximal medical therapy (including surfactant therapy, nitric oxide, and high frequency oscillatory ventilation).
• ECMO is not an experimental procedure. It has been used as a standard treatment of newborns with life-threatening respiratory failure since 1976.
• ECMO is used to treat newborns with:
  • Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
  • Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
  • Sepsis
  • Pneumonia
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome
• ECMO is also useful in the treatment of pediatric patients with acute respiratory failure caused by:
  • Pneumonia of various origin
  • Aspiration Syndromes
  • Pulmonary Hemorrhage
  • Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
  • Drowning and Burns
  • Trauma
• St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children is also able to enhance conventional management of profound respiratory failure with Nitric Oxide during transport.
• The program maintains a multi-disciplinary approach with all sub-specialty services available on site during hospitalization and after discharge.
• We encourage you to call and discuss any potential candidate prenatally or early in his/her postnatal course to promote optimal outcomes.

To refer a neonatal or pediatric patient or to consult with us, call        1-877-9-ECMO4U (1-877-932-6648) (unit) or 215-427-5151.

Matthew Moront MD
ECMO Surgical Director

Daniel Conway MD
ECMO Medical Director

Dominick M. Carella RN MSN
ECMO Coordinator

Christine Small RN
Assistant ECMO Coordinator

Sharon Leonardo RN
Assistant ECMO Coordinator