Predictors of Neurologic Complications and Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has emerged as an important intervention for children both preceding and following cardiac surgery. There is a notable lack of comprehensive information regarding neurodevelopmental outcomes. The Norwood procedure and complex biventricular repairs exhibit the highest prevalence of ECMO usage. Examination of the data demonstrates that only 50% of ECMO survivors achieved normative cognitive outcomes, with 40% of those experiencing long-term neurological deficits. It is imperative to conduct robustly designed studies with extended follow-up periods to establish guidelines for neuromonitoring and neuroprotection during ECMO in the field of congenital cardiac surgery.