Application of mechanical circulatory support in treatment of infants with severe congenital heart disease and cardiac arrest

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for saving infants with severe congenital heart disease who are receiving traditional cardio-pulmonary resuscitation has never been conducted before. The selection of timing and indications of MCS is associated with clinical ethics, and most of the doctors are more cautious in the application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for infants with severe disease undergoing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. ECMO was used for the treatment in 3 infants of complex congenital heart disease and cardiac arrest from October 2012 to January 2013 in our hospital. Among these 3 patients, ECMO was successfully evacuated in 2 cases. For infants with severe congenital heart disease who suffered from cardiac arrest, timely and quickly establishing a circulatory support to correct further injury due to hypoxia and hypoperfusion, is an effective treatment method.