[Effect of ulinastatin for hepatoprotection following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation].

To explore the effect of ulinastatin in hepatoprotection following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).Forty patients with ECMO were randomized into two groups to receive ulinastatin treatment or not. Venous blood samples were collected to test ALT and AST levels following ECMO treatment for 12, 24 and 48 h.The two groups showed no significant difference in liver function indices before ECMO treatment. In both groups, the liver function worsened significantly after a 12-h ECMO treatment, but improved gradually after 24 h. The liver function damages were obviously lessened in ulinastatin group compared to those in patients without ulinastatin treatment (P<0.05). ECMO treatment significantly improved the liver function of the patients.ECMO can significantly improve the liver function. The liver function damage reaches the peak level after a 12-h ECMO treatment, and ulinastatin can protect the liver function in patients undergoing ECMO.