Journal article
The use of ECMO in pediatric trauma resuscitation: A contemporary multicenter study
The journal of trauma and acute care surgery, Vol.100(1), pp.119-128
01/2026
DOI: 10.1097/TA.0000000000004784
PMID: 41196222
Abstract
Trauma remains the leading cause of death in all age groups of children, yet the role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in pediatric trauma remains unclear. The goal of this study was to evaluate contemporary ECMO practice patterns for pediatric trauma in both acute (<24 hours of trauma) and subacute (≥24 hours) settings.BACKGROUNDTrauma remains the leading cause of death in all age groups of children, yet the role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in pediatric trauma remains unclear. The goal of this study was to evaluate contemporary ECMO practice patterns for pediatric trauma in both acute (<24 hours of trauma) and subacute (≥24 hours) settings.Multicenter, retrospective study of children aged 0-20 years cannulated to ECMO after a trauma (Total Study Population). Collected data included trauma mechanism, complications, and outcomes. A sub-cohort termed Traumatic Injury Population excluded patients cannulated after drowning or foreign body aspiration (FBA).METHODSMulticenter, retrospective study of children aged 0-20 years cannulated to ECMO after a trauma (Total Study Population). Collected data included trauma mechanism, complications, and outcomes. A sub-cohort termed Traumatic Injury Population excluded patients cannulated after drowning or foreign body aspiration (FBA).Eleven centers contributed data from 55 children (average age, 8.3 years; male, 53%) cannulated between 2006 and 2022. The most common trauma mechanisms were drowning (20%) and motor vehicle collision (MVC) (15%). The Total Study Population survival was 69% (38/55). Of children cannulated acutely, the most common trauma events were MVC (18%) and cold-water drowning (15%) while in children cannulated subacutely, they were burn (19%) and all-terrain vehicle accident (19%). Survival was significantly improved in the acute cohort compared with subacute cohort (62% vs. 68%, p = 0.04). In the Traumatic Injury Population, overall survival was 67% (28/42) with 63% of children cannulated acutely surviving compared with 69% of children cannulated subacutely (p = 0.53). Children cannulated after FBA, cold-water drowning, and airway injury had 100% survival rate while those cannulated after penetrating thoracic or blunt abdominal injury, cardiac arrest, and cardiogenic shock had the worst survival (50%, 0%, 50%, 63%, respectively).RESULTSEleven centers contributed data from 55 children (average age, 8.3 years; male, 53%) cannulated between 2006 and 2022. The most common trauma mechanisms were drowning (20%) and motor vehicle collision (MVC) (15%). The Total Study Population survival was 69% (38/55). Of children cannulated acutely, the most common trauma events were MVC (18%) and cold-water drowning (15%) while in children cannulated subacutely, they were burn (19%) and all-terrain vehicle accident (19%). Survival was significantly improved in the acute cohort compared with subacute cohort (62% vs. 68%, p = 0.04). In the Traumatic Injury Population, overall survival was 67% (28/42) with 63% of children cannulated acutely surviving compared with 69% of children cannulated subacutely (p = 0.53). Children cannulated after FBA, cold-water drowning, and airway injury had 100% survival rate while those cannulated after penetrating thoracic or blunt abdominal injury, cardiac arrest, and cardiogenic shock had the worst survival (50%, 0%, 50%, 63%, respectively).This is the largest multicenter study to date using contemporary data of children who received ECMO for a trauma indication. Compared with national nontraumatic ECMO cannulations, our overall cohort, and sub-cohort of children with traumatic injuries, had comparable survival. Children cannulated after FBA, cold-water drowning, and airway injury benefitted the most from ECMO support.CONCLUSIONThis is the largest multicenter study to date using contemporary data of children who received ECMO for a trauma indication. Compared with national nontraumatic ECMO cannulations, our overall cohort, and sub-cohort of children with traumatic injuries, had comparable survival. Children cannulated after FBA, cold-water drowning, and airway injury benefitted the most from ECMO support.Level III.LEVEL OF EVIDENCELevel III.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The use of ECMO in pediatric trauma resuscitation: A contemporary multicenter study
- Creators
- Mary E Moya-Mendez - Arkansas Children's HospitalVictoria DonohueHarold LeraasDesiree BonadonnaJuan GurriaC Griffin McDanielTheodore WuTyler HughesKatelyn EvenAndrew YehHannah M PhelpsMatthew P MaloneDeidre WyrickStephanie R BrownMadhuradhar ChegondiJamie Furlong-DillardBrian W GraySindhu V MannavaMatteo Di NardoCaroline OzmentElisabeth T Tracy
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The journal of trauma and acute care surgery, Vol.100(1), pp.119-128
- DOI
- 10.1097/TA.0000000000004784
- PMID
- 41196222
- NLM abbreviation
- J Trauma Acute Care Surg
- ISSN
- 2163-0763
- eISSN
- 2163-0763
- Publisher
- LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 10/22/2025
- Date published
- 01/2026
- Academic Unit
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics
- Record Identifier
- 9985024258502771
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