Markers of Inflammation and Lung Recovery in ECMO Patients for PPHN

Respiratory failure in newborns is common and has high rates of death. Where conventional intensive care strategies have failed, newborn children are referred to treatment with Extra- Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). This involves connecting children via large bore cannulas placed in their heart and major blood vessels to an artificial lung that adds oxygen to their blood and removes waste gases (carbon dioxide). Although this treatment saves lives, it still has some limitations. In particular, severe complications like bleeding, or damage to the kidneys can occur. These complications can lead to death in some cases and long-term disability in others. Based on ongoing research in adults and children undergoing cardiac surgery the investigators have identified a new process that may underlie some of the complications observed in ECMO. The investigators have noted that when transfused blood is infused in an ECMO circuit, this results in the accelerated release of substances from the donor cells that cause organ damage; at least in adults. There are treatments that can reverse this process. Before the investigators explore whether these treatments should be used in newborn children on ECMO, the investigators must first demonstrate that they can measure the complex inflammatory processes that occur in these critically ill children. The investigators therefore propose to conduct a feasibility study to identify the practical issues and challenges that would need to be overcome in order to perform a successful trial in this high-risk population.