Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-EMCO) saves meningitis children:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Unresponsive meningitis can be treated by veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-EMCO), says Dr Michael Champion of Guy's Hospital, London. Four children who would almost certainly have died from septic shock have been saved using VA-EMCO and haemofiltration in one case. Dr Champion reported data on two cases in a letter to The Lancet (January 20th). Despite new pharmaceuticals, mortality due to meningococcal sepsis remains stable at 11% - around 150 deaths a year in the UK.