Point-of-Care Ultrasound Detects Rapid Muscle Loss in Pediatric ECMO Patients—A Secondary Analysis Paper

Background: Critically ill children requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support are at high risk of immobility, deconditioning, and muscle loss. There is a lack of screening and diagnostic tools to quantify muscle loss in this population. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the use of bedside ultrasound as a practical and effective method for detecting muscle loss in this high-risk group. Materials and Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective observational clinical study conducted between January 2024 and January 2025 that used ultrasound to describe muscle loss in critically ill children aged 2 to 18 years. Results: The primary study enrolled 35 patients, five of whom required ECMO support. All patients who required ECMO showed significant muscle loss (>10%) in the quadriceps femoris, as measured by muscle thickness and cross-sectional area, compared with baseline measurements obtained before ECMO cannulation. Conclusions: Point-of-care muscle ultrasound could be a reliable, cost-effective tool for assessing muscle loss in pediatric patients on ECMO.