Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has been proven to be very useful in the neonatal period. For reversible respiratory and cardiac disorders, when maximal conventional measures have failed to provide life support, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) becomes the treatment of choice. The indications, contra-indications for ECMO, optimization of the care prior to embracing ECMO, cannulation techniques, daily management of ECMO from the practical standpoint, weaning and decannulation, complications, and special circumstances in neonatal period have been described. The follow-up of neonatal ECMO and various system manifestations necessitating careful review will be highlighted.

Diagnostic evaluation of embolic neurologic events requires the consideration of cardiac causes. Lambl’s Excrescences (LE)are filiform fronds that occur at sites of valvular closure due to “wear and tear” (Lambl Wien Med Wschr 6:244–247, 1856). The complex form of LE is “giant Lambl’s Excrescences” which results from the adherence of multiple adjacent excrescences that grow large. We recently had young male adult who presented with features of posterior circulation stroke (basilar) and detected to have two separate giant Lambl’s Excrescences on the aortic valve and treated successfully.