Absence of written guidelines in neonatal units for ECMO referral may delay referral
- WILL CARROLL, Specialist Registrar
- Department of Paediatrics
- City General Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
- ECMO Coordinator
- Heartlink ECMO Office
- The Glenfield Hospital NHS Trust
- Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP, UK
- Department of Paediatrics
- City General Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
- ECMO Coordinator
- Heartlink ECMO Office
- The Glenfield Hospital NHS Trust
- Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QP, UK
Editor—Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a complex technique for providing life support in respiratory failure. ECMO support has been shown to be both clinically1 and economically2 justifiable for mature newborn infants with severe respiratory failure. As a result of the UK trial, the Department of Health (England and Wales) has decided to fund centrally three centres to provide an ECMO service for these children. Prompt and appropriate referral …
