Predictors of Brain Infarction in Pediatric Patients During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Brain infarction was more common than in most prior reports and was associated with high short-term mortality. VA ECMO mode, compared with venovenous ECMO, and higher pre-ECMO arterial lactate were independent predictors of BI. These findings support enhanced, standardized neurological monitoring and a liberal early brain CT strategy in pediatric ECMO patients, particularly those supported with VA ECMO.