Venoarterial ECMO is a resource-intensive rescue therapy and bridge-to-recovery for adults with hemodynamic compromise, cardiogenic shock, or cardiac arrest.
Venoarterial ECMO is a resource-intensive rescue therapy serving as a bridge to recovery, decision, or definitive treatment for patients with severe hemodynamic compromise.
Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a rescue therapy that can stabilize patients with hemodynamic compromise, with or without respiratory failure, for days or weeks. In cardiology, the main indications for ECMO include cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, post-cardiotomy shock, refractory ventricular tachycardia, and acute management of complications of invasive procedures. The fundamental premise underlying ECMO is that it is a bridge-to recovery, to a more durable bridge, to definitive treatment, or to decision. As a very resource- and effort-intensive intervention, ECMO should not be used on unsalvageable patients. As the use of this technology continues to evolve rapidly, it is important to understand the indications and contraindications; the logistics of ECMO initiation, management, and weaning; the general infrastructure of the program (including the challenges associated with transferring patients supported by ECMO); and ethical considerations, areas of uncertainty, and future directions.
Guglin et al. (Fri,) conducted a review in Hemodynamic compromise. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) was evaluated. Venoarterial ECMO is a resource-intensive rescue therapy and bridge-to-recovery for adults with hemodynamic compromise, cardiogenic shock, or cardiac arrest.