Plasmapheresis for ECMO-induced hemolysis in infants
Author Information
Author(s): Budhu Gail MD, Morris-Whyte Kaydeen MD, Constantinescu Alexandru R. MD
Primary Institution: Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, Memorial Healthcare System
Hypothesis
Can therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) effectively manage severe ECMO-induced hemolysis in infants?
Conclusion
TPE is effective in decreasing plasma-free hemoglobin levels and is well tolerated in tandem with ECMO.
Supporting Evidence
- TPE was performed in tandem with ECMO to manage severe hemolysis.
- PFH levels decreased significantly after TPE in both cases.
- Despite improvements in PFH, both patients had poor clinical outcomes.
Takeaway
Doctors used a special treatment called plasmapheresis to help babies who were very sick from a machine that helps them breathe. It worked to lower the bad stuff in their blood, but sadly, the babies still had serious problems.
Methodology
Two-term neonates on VA ECMO with severe plasma-free hemoglobin levels underwent therapeutic plasma exchange in tandem with ECMO.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small sample size and lack of control group.
Limitations
The study is based on case reports with no randomized controlled trials to support the findings.
Participant Demographics
Two term male neonates, one with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and the other with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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