Sepsis Prevalence in Neonatal and Pediatric Cases During ECMO Support after Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

Background: Using of ECMO support after pediatric cardiac surgery played a significant role in changing the survival rate of cases with complex cardiac lesions after cardiac surgeries. However, this was associated with increased incidence of sepsis.

Objectives: Assessment of the incidence of sepsis in neonatal and pediatric cases during ECMO support after cardiac surgery.

Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study including all neonates, and pediatrics who need extracorporeal life support following cardiac surgery at San Donato Hospital - Milan – Italy. All Patient laboratory data were assessed and only culture positive patients were considered sepsis positive

Results: sepsis developed in 46% of our cohort, Statistical analysis for sepsis prevalence failed to detect any statistically significant data with all the compared parameters regarding patients age, weight, type of surgical repair and length of stay on ECMO

Conclusion: Sepsis has a high incidence on patients on ECMO regardless of any other risk factor