Neuropsychological abilities of children with cardiac disease treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

We examined the effect of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on right- and left-hemisphere neuropsychological abilities in children with cardiac disease. Nine children treated with ECMO, ages 4 to 6 years, with no history of neurologic or genetic disorder, were compared to 13 controls matched for cardiac disease and age of surgery and 31 normal controls. Children treated with ECMO demonstrated significant impairment in general cognitive ability compared to normal controls. No group differences were found in impulsivity or sustained attention. On lateralized measures, children treated with ECMO demonstrated significant impairment in left-hand motor skill, visual memory, and spatial construction compared to both cardiac controls and normal controls. There were no group differences in general verbal ability, verbal memory, right-hand motor skills, or tactile perception. Results indicated mild general cognitive impairment and impairment of functions associated with right-hemisphere abilities in children treated with ECMO.