EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION FOR ACUTE CARDIOPULMONARY FAILURE

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation represents an evolving therapeutic modality for the treatment of acute severe cardiac and respiratory failure in patients failing maximal medical therapy. Advances in technology, along with increasing worldwide clinical successes and broadening applications, have encouraged renewed interest in what was previously considered a salvage intervention associated with poor outcomes. With advances in technology, patient selection, management, and a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the long-term extracorporeal support, outcomes for both pulmonary and cardiac support have improved.