Record Status This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database. Citation Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for children and adults. Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) 1997: 15 Authors' objectives This project was undertaken in response to a request about the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on a 14 year old boy pending availability of a suitable donor heart for transplantation. An article by Kolla et al [full reference in report] had suggested that extracorporeal life support (ECLS) not be used as a bridge to transplantation because the likelihood of finding a suitable donor is remote. This raised concern about when it is appropriate to use ECLS in older children and adults.
Authors' conclusions ECLS continues to be used in older children and adults as a technique in the management of severely compromised patients with a poor chance of survival. The quality of the available evidence of benefit remains limited and there is not a consensus regarding its appropriate use.
ECLS appears to be a useful option in the management of appropriately-selected patients, at centres with experience in its application. Decisions on its use as a bridge to transplantation would need to take account of availability of donor organs, probable deterioration of the patient when use of ECLS is prolonged, and overall demand for transplantation within the health care system.
Indexing Status Subject indexing assigned by CRD MeSH Child; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; Life Support Care; Life Support Systems; Organ Transplantation Language Published English Country of organisation Canada English summary An English language summary is available. Address for correspondence 1200, 10405 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5J 3N4. Tel: +1 780 448 4881; Fax: +1 780 448 0018 Email: djuzwishin@ihe.ca AccessionNumber 31998008928 Date bibliographic record published 18/09/1998 Date abstract record published 18/09/1998 |