ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Fundamentals
Definitions:
 • ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) provides prolonged pulmonary and/or circulatory support by removing venous blood, pumping it across an artificial lung (oxygenator or membrane lung) for gas exchange, & returning it to the pt.
 • VV ECMO: artificially oxygenated Venous blood is returned to the Venous side (right atrium), providing no circulatory support, & adding the artificial lung in series with the native lung
 • VA ECMO: artificially oxygenated Venous blood is returned to the Arterial side (aorta), providing circulatory support, and adding artificial lung in parallel with the native lung.
Indications:
 • VV: Refractory hypoxemia/mixed respiratorv failure used as a bridge to recovery or transplant
 • ECCO2R: Refractory hypercapnia similar to VV but with lower flow/smaller sized cannula
 • VA: Pulmonary & Circulatory Support (VA) - cardiac arrest, overdose, massive PE, cardiogenic shock, etc. Used as a bridge to recovery, transplant, or destination device.

by Nick Mark MD @nickmmark

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