Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been progressively adopted for life-threatening cardiac or pulmonary conditions, allowing time for further diagnostics, interventions, or transplantation. The most common modalities are venoarterial and venovenous ECMO. Despite continuous advance in critical care medicine, severe cardiopulmonary failure is still associated with high mortality. Extracorporeal life support is considered the last treatment option if stabilization cannot be achieved by other means. In the last two decades, ECMO support is increasingly used for extended indications, partly with promising outcomes. Dedicated centers of excellence with high patient volume meet the highest standards of training and expertise with superior patient outcome, presenting the safest places to indicate and manage this high-risk life support modality.