These data are encouraging for the development of a low-prime, mobile neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit using centrifugal pump technology.

In mid 2002, surveys of active extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) centers in the United States and Canada were conducted via E-mail regarding neonatal equipment and personnel. Seventy-four out of 99 (75%) North American ECMO centers listed in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) directory responded to the survey. Of the responding centers, 95% use roller pumps, and the remaining 5% use centrifugal pumps. Silicone membrane oxygenators were used by 97% of the respondents, while 3% used hollow fiber oxygenators. Of the silicone membrane oxygenator users, 82% used the Medtronic ECMOtherm heat exchanger, 15% used a Gish heat exchanger, and 3% used the Dideco D720 heat exchanger. Sixty-one percent of the responding centers used some form of in-line blood gas monitoring. Five percent of the centers used a bubble trap in the arterial line, and 12% used an arterial line filter. A bladder was used by 92% of the centers, and 29% used a mechanical bladder box for servo regulation, the remaining 71% used pressure servo regulation. An air bubble detector was used by 65% of the responding centers, although 81% had the device available. Heparin coating was used by 5% of the centers on all their neonatal ECMO patients. The average low range ACT was 183 seconds, and the average high range ACT was 216 seconds. At 49% of the responding centers, perfusionists were involved with the ECMO program, registered nurses were involved at 84% of the centers, and respiratory therapists were involved at 61% of the centers, perfusion assistants were involved at one center (1%), and biomedical engineers were involved at one of the centers. When compared to a 1990 survey, a shift away from using bladder boxes and toward using air bubble detectors is apparent. But other than those two shifts, ECMO is done in much the same manner as it was done 12 years ago.

In early 2008, surveys of active extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) centers in North America were conducted by electronic mail regarding neonatal ECMO equipment and professional staff. Eighty of 103 (78%) North American ECMO centers listed in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization directory as neonatal centers responded to the survey. Of the responding centers, 82.5% routinely used roller pumps for neonatal ECMO, and the remaining 17.5% used centrifugal pumps. Silicone membrane oxygenators were used by 67% of the respondents, whereas 19% used micro-porous hollow fiber oxygenators, and 14% used polymethylpentene hollow fiber oxygenators. Of the silicone membrane oxygenator users, 86% used the Medtronic Ecmotherm heat exchanger, 10% used the Gish HE-4 heat exchanger, and 4% used the Terumo Conducer device. Sixty-four percent of the responding centers used some form of in-line blood gas monitoring. Six percent of the centers used a bubble trap in the arterial line, and 5% used an arterial line filter. A bladder was used by 85% of the centers, and 4% of these used a mechanical bladder box for servo regulation; the remaining 96% used pressure servo regulation. An air bubble detector was used by 88% of the responding centers. A surface coating was used by 44% of the centers on all their neonatal ECMO patients. Thirty-one percent of the centers use an activated clotting time of 180–220 seconds. At 54% of the responding centers, perfusionists were involved with the ECMO program, registered nurses were involved at 70% of the centers, and respiratory therapists were involved at 46% of the centers. Compared with a 2002 survey, silicone membrane use is declining, and the use of centrifugal blood pumps and coated ECMO circuits is becoming more apparent. ECMO teams are still multidisciplinary, made up of combinations of registered nurses, respiratory therapists, and perfusionists.