Sensorineural hearing loss can occur in a neonate receiving ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) therapy. Certain risk factors can help to identify a patient who should be monitored for signs of hearing loss.
Patient selection: neonate placed on ECMO
Outcomes: sensorineural hearing loss
Risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss identified by Fligor et al:
(1) congenital diaphragmatic hernia
(2) prolonged ECMO therapy (>= 160 hours)
(3) aminoglycoside therapy (prolonged >= 14 days, high dose)
Subsequent reports indicated sensorineural hearing loss in neonates was associated with:
(1) severe acute respiratory failure (which is presumed to be the indicator for ECMO)
(2) exposure to other ototoxic drugs (vancomycin, loop diuretics, etc)
The risk of sensorineural hearing loss increases with the number of risk factors present.
