Dexmedetomidine is a sedative administered to minimize distress and decrease the risk of life threatening complications in children supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit can extract drug and decrease drug exposure, placing the patient at risk of therapeutic failure.
Clopidogrel within 4 days of coronary bypass surgery is associated with increased blood losses and reoperation for bleeding and, according to multivariable models, is an independent risk factor for increased transfusion requirements and prolonged ICU and hospital length of stay.
Infection during mechanical circulatory support is a frequent adverse complication. We analyzed infections occurring in this population in a national tertiary care center, and assessed the differences existing between the setting of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and ventricular assist devices (VADs).