Despite extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) utilization in nearly 20% of cases, there are limited data in children with acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) requiring ECMO. Herein we identify risk factors for death or heart transplant (HT) in children with AFM supported with ECMO, describe our experience with left atrial (LA) decompression, and depict long-term outcomes of survivors. We performed a retrospective cohort of patients <18 years with AFM (≤14 days of symptoms, rapid cardiogenic shock, and normal left ventricular [LV] size on presentation) supported with ECMO admitted to a single intensive care unit from 1997 to 2021. Among 28 patients (median age 9 years), 21 (75%) survived to discharge without HT. Patients were supported on ECMO for a median of 6 days. Three patients were bridged to HT with durable ventricular assist devices (VAD). Four patients died, two of whom were supported with VAD. At presentation, seven (25%) patients had high grade or complete atrioventricular block and eight (29%) had ventricular tachycardia. Before ECMO cannulation, 21 (75%) patients received CPR. The death/HT group had higher peak troponin levels (12.5 vs . 1.0 ng/ml, p = 0.02) and initial mean LA or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (27 vs . 18 mm Hg, p = 0.03). Left atrial decompression was performed in 22 patients (79%). Twenty-two (79%) had acute myocarditis on endomyocardial biopsy. Among transplant-free survivors, 18 (86%) had normalization in LV function (median 7 days); the remaining three patients had persistent mild LV dysfunction at last follow-up (median 842 days). Transplant-free survival of pediatric patients with AFM supported on ECMO was 75% and associated with lower initial LA pressure and lower peak troponin. Recovery in ventricular function among survivors was rapid and durable.
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