Monday Apr 28, 2025

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Basics - Comprehensive Overview | Clinical Medicine

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, more commonly referred to as ECMO, first started in the pediatric world before becoming more and more prominent in adults. It is used for patients with severe respiratory or hemodynamic failure as a means to try and support these patients long enough for their heart or lungs to recover. This video is an introduction to understanding ECMO. We discuss the general principles of what ECMO is and how it works. We then dive into the different types of ECMO, such as VV-ECMO (venovenous) and VA-ECMO (venoarterial). We illustrate the differences between these two types of ECMO, their indications, and the anatomy related to how they work. We then discuss the indications and contraindications for cannulating a patient for ECMO. We go into what needs to be done by the care team daily to maintain the ECMO circuit and optimize the patient. Lastly, we dive into the many potential complications that can result when a patient is on ECMO.

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