Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Cardiac Support

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) (commonly named venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, VA-ECMO) allows cardiocirculatory assistance and blood decarboxylation and oxygenation in patients with cardiac or cardiorespiratory failure. Blood is drained from the venous system, pushed through an artificial lung for CO2 removal and oxygenation, and then backs into the systemic circulation via an artery (VA configuration). Common indications for VA-ECMO are reversible causes of cardiac failure (myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, postcardiotomy cardiac failure, or cardiac arrest) or bridge to long-term therapy (ventricular assist devices or cardiac transplantation). Over the last 10 years, VA-ECMO application has been progressively increasing with significant improvement in the outcome of patients with acute cardiocirculatory failure.