Understanding VV ECMO: Life Support for Severe Respiratory Failure

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is an advanced modality for rescue of patients with hypoxic respiratory failure with or without associated cardiac failure, and failure to respond to conventional therapy and ventilator management. Previously, ECMO was limited to a few select centers and had scant supporting literature in adult patients for most indications. Over the past 5 years there has been an explosion in interest in ECMO and a proliferation of ECMO programs in the U.S., likely as a result of improved techniques and equipment, a large and relatively successful experience with the H1N1 influenza epidemic, and publication of the CESAR randomized trial that supports ECMO use and referral to an ECMO center for refractory respiratory failure. We discussed ECMO with two leaders in the field: Dr. David Zonies and Dr. Jay Menaker, who shared their knowledge and experience in a review format for the Acute Care Surgeon.Supplemental Materials:The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) websiteDownloadable adult ECMO simulator and other great ECMO resources