Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation For Adult Conditions

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides extracorporeal circulation and physiologic gas exchange for temporary cardiorespiratory support in cases of severe respiratory and cardiorespiratory failure. Generally, ECMO has been used in clinical situations in which there is respiratory or cardiac failure, or both, in which death would be imminent unless medical interventions can immediately reverse the underlying disease process, or physiologic functions can be supported long enough that normal reparative processes or treatment can occur (eg, resolution of acute respiratory distress syndrome, treatment of infection), or other life-saving intervention can be delivered (eg, provision of a lung transplant). Potential indications for ECMO in the adult population include acute, potentially reversible respiratory failure due to a variety of causes; as a bridge to lung transplant; in potentially reversible cardiogenic shock; and as an adjunct to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECMO-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation [ECPR]).