Affiliations: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA | Department of Pediatric Cardiology, UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Russell G. Witt, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California DavisMedical Center, 2221 Stockton Blvd., Room 2112, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. Tel.: +1 916 734 1508; Fax: +1 916 734 3066; E-mail: russellgwitt@gmail.com.
Abstract: A Down syndrome female born at 35 wk estimated gestational age with non-immune hydrops fetalis associated with a complete atrioventricular septal defect and large patent ductus arteriosus with hypoxemia, severe anasarca and hypotension was treated successfully with extracorporeal life support for severe cardiopulmonary failure leading to eventual hospital discharge and elective repair of her cardiac defect. The case demonstrates that extracorporeal life support may be an effective therapy when initiated early in patients with non-immune hydrops fetalis associated with significant cardiac abnormalities.
