Pauline K. Park M.D., James M. Blum M.D., Lena M. Napolitano, M.D., Gail Annich, M.D., Jonathan W. Haft, M.D., and Robert H. Bartlett, M.D. University of Michigan Health System. From the ATS Critical Care Website
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides continuous cardiopulmonary support on a long-term basis, typically on the order of days to weeks, as adjunctive management of severe respiratory and cardiac failure.
The goal of therapy is to minimize ventilator-induced lung injury while allowing additional time to treat the underlying disease process and to permit recovery from acute injury. ECMO is a complex technique and requires a dedicated team, appropriate equipment, institutional commitment and thorough preparation. Potential complications are significant and its use is advocated only in patients who have substantial risk of death.
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