Severe Lung Failure Center Second Opinions
Cincinnati Children’s Severe Lung Failure Center offers consultations and second opinions for critically ill children of all ages with severe lung disease who need prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support.
We work with medical teams at other hospitals to evaluate complex cases and explore treatment options. We encourage early consultations, including early in a child’s hospital stay or ECMO treatment, to help identify potential treatments and plan next steps.
Our expert, pediatric lung specialists offer second opinions for:
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or necrotizing pneumonia requiring prolonged ECMO support, especially when a child is not expected to come off ECMO within 21 days.
- Refractory pulmonary air leak syndrome with pneumothoraces or pneumomediastinum
We work closely with you and your child’s medical team to review their condition, understand which treatments have been tried, and explore possible next steps.
What Is the Benefit of a Second Opinion from Cincinnati Children’s Severe Lung Failure Center?
A second opinion from our team can provide clarity, answer important questions and help you understand all available treatment options so you can make the most informed decisions for your child’s care.
Families and medical teams come to our center from across the country and around the world for our expertise in caring for children who need prolonged ECMO support due to ongoing respiratory failure. Some children may benefit from advanced treatments to help their lungs heal or stabilize. Others may need additional interventions to prepare for a lung transplant.
How Do I Get a Severe Lung Failure Center Second Opinion or Consultation?
Because children referred to our center are critically ill and typically receiving care in a pediatric intensive care unit, all consultations and referrals must come through the child’s medical team. Families cannot request a second opinion directly.
If you would like our specialists to review your child’s condition, talk with your child’s doctors and ask them to contact the Severe Lung Failure Center through Cincinnati Children's Transfer Center. Our specialists will work with your child’s medical team to review the case and discuss possible treatment options.
What Can I Expect During the Second Opinion Process?
The process typically begins with a conference call between our specialists and your child’s medical team to:
- Review medical and surgical history. We learn about your child’s condition, previous treatments, and response to care.
- Evaluate diagnostic tests. We review available imaging, biopsies and other test results to better understand your child’s lung condition.
- Discuss potential treatment options. Our specialists collaborate to determine whether additional therapies, advanced procedures, or other approaches may help your child.
Determining the Next Steps in Care
After reviewing your child’s case, our team will discuss recommendations with you and your medical team. Depending on your child’s needs, there are two possible approaches:
Consultation and Treatment Recommendations
Your child may be able to remain at their current hospital while our specialists work with their medical team to optimize treatment, explore additional therapies to promote lung healing and, if needed, stabilize your child before a potential transfer to Cincinnati Children’s.
Transfer to Cincinnati Children’s
Some children may benefit from receiving care directly from our multidisciplinary center. If this approach is best for your child, we will schedule telemedicine meetings with you and your child’s medical team to discuss potential treatments plans, what to expect during hospitalization, and how to coordinate safe transport to Cincinnati Children’s.
Our Transport Team has extensive experience safely transporting critically ill children, including those on ECMO. We will also connect you with our Concierge services to help arrange travel and accommodations for your family.
After Your Child's Consultation with the Severe Lung Failure Center
Our collaboration with your child’s medical team continues after the initial consultation.
If your child remains at their current hospital, we can review new clinical information and discuss treatment recommendations as their condition evolves. If your child transfers to Cincinnati Children’s, our multidisciplinary team will provide specialized care and work closely with your family and your child’s medical team to guide treatment and recovery.
Throughout the process, our goal is to help your family and your child’s medical team understand the available options and determine the best path forward, with the aim of giving your child the best possible chance for survival and recovery of lung function.
