Differential venous oxygen return: a key factor of differential hypoxia in venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Differential hypoxia is a pivotal problem in cardiopulmonary failure patients with femoral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) support. Although there was some attempt to deliver more oxygenated blood to the upper body, the mechanism of differential hypoxia has not been well investigated.