AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Basics of VV-ECMO Physiology
- VV-ECMO drains blood from and returns oxygenated blood to central veins, relying on a functional heart for systemic circulation.
- Oxygenation depends on blood flow, while CO2 removal is controlled by sweep gas flow rate through the membrane lung.
VVECMO Patient Indications
- Majority of VVECMO patients have acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or severe reversible respiratory failure.
- Other uses include status asthmaticus, hypercapnic respiratory failure, and bridging to lung transplant.
Managing Oxygenation and CO2
- Optimize oxygenation by adjusting ECMO blood flow and FiO2; CO2 removal by adjusting sweep gas flow rate.
- For hypercapnic patients, start with lower sweep flow to prevent neurologic injury due to rapid CO2 removal.