First Experience of ECMO in Iran

Transplant Research Center, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences
Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) although is a routine management of temporary circulatory or respiratory failure in the western countries, but due to high cost was not applicable in our country.
In a tertiary center with high load of patients with respiratory failure and also an active heart and lung transplant program, this program was started since 1386, but became active from 1390. From Farvardin 1386 till Day 1393, 40 patients were undergone ECMO. The mean ages of the patients were 28.77 ±21 (Max. 68 and Min. 3) and the duration of ECMO was 42.92 ±3.67 hours. Successful weaning of ECMO was in 29 cases (72.5%), but alive discharges were in 20 cases (50%). ECMO were used in Alveolar Proteinosis (12), Lung transplant (11), ARDS (8), Post heart transplant (3), Post Pulmonary Embolectomy (1), Post Pulmonary Endarterectomy (3), and Post CABG (3).
It was most effective in Alveolar Proteinosis and lung transplant patients and least effective in ARDS, Post heart transplant and Post CABG patients. The cause of failure in those patients may be late application of ECMO. The cause of mortality in alive patients after successful weaning of ECMO was Sepsis and multiorgan failure and in one the heart transplant patients were rejection