EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION IN ADULTS

Course overview

EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION (ECMO) IS USED FOR CARDIAC OR RESPIRATORY FAILURE WHERE CONVENTIONAL MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING CPR, IS NOT SUCCESSFUL. ECMO IS A CIRCUIT COMPRISED OF A DRAINING CANNULA THAT DRAINS BLOOD FROM THE BODY THAT IS CIRCULATED IN THE MACHINE AND RETURNS BACK TO THE BODY THROUGH A RETURNING CANNULA. TRADITIONALLY VENO-VENOUS AND VENO-ARTERIAL ECMO ARE USED. DURING THIS CIRCULATION OF BLOOD, ANTICOAGULATION MONITORING IS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAIN THE BALANCE BETWEEN CLOTTING OR BLEEDING. ALSO, HEPARIN-INDUCED THROMBOCYTOPENIA, NEUROLOGIC COMPLICATIONS, SEPSIS COMPLICATIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. SURVIVAL AFTER ECMO USAGE HAS IMPROVED IN CASES OF CARDIAC ARREST, CARDIOGENIC SHOCK, AND ARDS, INCLUDING COVID-19 INFECTION. THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDES INDICATIONS AND THE USE OF ECMO BY THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM.