Ethical Dilemma: Offering Short-Term Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support for Terminally Ill Children Who Are Not Candidates for Long-Term Mechanical Circulatory Support Or Heart Transplantation. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shankar, Venkat; Costello, John P.; Peer, Syed M.; Klugman, Darren; Nath, Dilip S.
• Is Part Of: World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery. Volume 5:Number 2(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 311
• Page End: 314
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: ECMO -- ethics -- intensive care -- circulatory assistance -- heart transplantation; Pediatric cardiology -- Periodicals; Congenital heart disease in children -- Periodicals; Heart -- Abnormalities -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Heart Defects, Congenital -- surgery -- Periodicals; Cardiac Surgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Child -- Periodicals; Adult -- Periodicals; 618.9212
• DOI: 10.1177/2150135113509820
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2150-1351

Abstract

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in terminally ill pediatric patients who are not candidates for long-term mechanical circulatory support or heart transplantation requires careful deliberation. We present the case of a 16-year-old female with a relapse of acute lymphoid leukemia and acute-on-chronic cardiomyopathy who received short-term ECMO therapy. In addition, we highlight several ethical considerations that were crucial to this patient's family-centered care and demonstrate that this therapy can be accomplished in a manner that respects patient autonomy and family wishes.