Severe Lung Failure Center

Treatments and Services

Expert Treatments for Children with Severe Lung Failure

Severe lung failure caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome or air leak syndrome can affect each child differently. Our multidisciplinary team creates an individualized treatment plan based on your child’s condition and needs. Treatment options may include:

Advanced Lung and Breathing Support

• Prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
• Complex ECMO cannulation and recannulation strategies, including venoarterial bridging procedures
• Advanced mechanical ventilatory strategies including high-frequency percussive ventilation

Lung and Airway Procedures

• Flexible thoracoscopy at beside
• Endobronchial valve placement
• Therapeutic and whole-lung bronchoalveolar lavage
• Endobronchial cryotherapy to remove blood clots, mucus plugs or airway casts
• Tracheostomy while receiving ECMO, as well as airway evaluation and reconstruction when needed to support tracheostomy removal

Chest and Heart Procedures

• Thoracentesis for complex empyema, hemothorax, or pleural effusion on ECMO
• Diagnostic cardiac catheterization and atrial septostomy on ECMO
• Pleural manometry

Lung Monitoring and Recovery

• Functional lung imaging and electrical impedance tomography
• Bedside esophagogastroscopy and post-pyloric feeding tube placement to support nutrition
• Mobility and rehabilitation during and after ECMO