Objective: 

Neurologic complications in pediatric patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are common and lead to morbidity and mortality; however, few modifiable factors are known.

Design: 

Retrospective study of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry (2010–2019).

Setting: 

Multicenter international database

Patients: 

Pediatric patients receiving ECMO (2010–2019) for all indications and any mode of support.

Interventions: 

None.

Measurements and Main Results: 

We investigated if early relative change in Paco₂ or mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) soon after starting ECMO was associated with neurologic complications. The primary outcome of neurologic complications was defined as a report of seizures, central nervous system infarction or hemorrhage, or brain death. All-cause mortality (including brain death) was used as a secondary outcome.

Out of 7,270 patients, 15.6% had neurologic complications. Neurologic complications increased when the relative Paco₂ decreased by greater than 50% (18.4%) or 30–50% (16.5%) versus those who had a minimal change (13.9%, p < 0.01 and p = 0.046). When the relative MAP increased greater than 50%, the rate of neurologic complications was 16.9% versus 13.1% those with minimal change (p = 0.007). In a multivariable model adjusting for confounders, a relative decrease in Paco₂ greater than 30% was independently associated with greater odds of neurologic complication (odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% CI, 1.07–1.46; p = 0.005). Within this group, with a relative decrease in Paco₂ greater than 30%, the effects of increased relative MAP increased neurologic complications (0.05% per BP Percentile; 95% CI, 0.001–0.11; p = 0.05).

Conclusions: 

In pediatric patients, a large decrease in Paco₂ and increase in MAP following ECMO initiation are both associated with neurologic complications. Future research focusing on managing these issues carefully soon after ECMO deployment can potentially help to reduce neurologic complications.