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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Although we&amp;amp;#39;re far from the development of a Dark-Vaderesque life support system, ECMO or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has come a long way in recent years.\u00A0 A means of therapy classically used to help &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://abt.cm/1F5dRbP&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;newborn babies&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, an increasing number of adults are receiving ECMO, and ECMO centers are popping up all over the world. \u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;According to the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.elso.org/Registry/Statistics.aspx&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, which keeps running tabs on ECMO, ever since 1990, ECMO has been used to help 58,842 people throughout the world, with that number increasing every year.\u00A0 Although nearly half of these cases involve neonates with respiratory problems, a combined 10,426 cases involve adults with respiratory and cardiac problems or in need of pulmonary resuscitation.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What Is ECMO?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;ECMO (AKA extracorporeal life support or ECLS) is a short-term means of providing life support in people who are seriously ill (think lung or heart failure).\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.texasheart.org/HIC/Topics/Proced/&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;Specifically, ECMO infuses oxygen into the blood and removes carbon dioxide.\u00A0 It can also provide hemodynamic (blood pressure) support.\u00A0 ECMO is a means of partial cardiopulmonary bypass and is used outside the operating room.\u00A0 Full &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.texasheart.org/HIC/Topics/Proced/&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;cardiopulmonary bypass machines (heart-lung machines)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; are used only for a few hours during surgery.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;ECMO is often used to take stress off the lungs and heart for several days which theoretically promotes healing.\u00A0 It&amp;amp;#39;s used in patients who, if emergently treated, their chances of survival are good, and who would otherwise probably die without ECMO.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;As far back as 1944, researchers recognized that blood passing through semipermeable membranes became oxygenated.\u00A0 This observation became the basis for cardiopulmonary bypass.\u00A0 At first, cardiopulmonary bypass relied on bubble or disk oxygenators which exposed blood directly to air.\u00A0 An adverse effect of this &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.mch.com/extra-corporeal-membrane-oxygenation/history-of-ecmo.aspx&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;early form of bypass&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; involved hemolysis or the destruction of blood cells which limited its benefit to a few hours at most.\u00A0 In 1956, the development of a membrane oxygenator fixed this problem and set the foundation for more prolonged use of ECMO.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Here are the components of a typical ECMO:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;heat exchanger&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;membrane oxygenator&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;roller or centrifugal pump&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;circuit tubing&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;catheters specific to the site of access (VV ECMO returns blood to the &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;venous &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;system via the superior vena cava or right atrium and VA ECMO returns blood to the &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;arterial &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;system via the aorta or common carotid artery)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In some set-ups, a parallel circuit containing another pump and oxygenator is used to help with oxygenation and carbon-dioxide removal. Flow rates are adjusted based on close monitoring of the patient homeostasis: blood pressure, acid-base status, end-organ function, and mixed venous status.\u00A0 Of note, only VA ECMO provides hemodynamic or blood pressure support.\u00A0 Finally, although full cardiopulmonary bypass is hooked up in the operating room under general anesthesia, ECMO is typically set up using local anesthesia.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Patients who are on &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.elso.org/Registry/Statistics/InternationalSummary.aspx&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot; rel=&amp;quot;nofollow&amp;quot;&amp;gt;ECMO&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; are usually pretty sick, and not everyone survives the experience.\u00A0 In 2013, ELSO reported that worldwide only 72 percent of people survived ECMO with this statistic being heavily weighed in favor of neonates who have limited lung injury going into the procedure. (Keep in mind that baby&amp;amp;#39;s have new lungs and thus often enter ECMO without the comorbidity or accompanying lung damage typical of adults.)\u00A0 Moreover, although 72 percent of all people survived ECMO, only 60 percent made it to discharge or transfer--again this statistic was weighed in favor of newborns.\u00A0 Specifically, only 56 percent of adults with respiratory problems made it to discharge or transfer.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Adverse effects of ECMO include severe internal and external bleeding, infection, thrombosis (deadly blood clots inside blood vessels) and pump failure.\u00A0 In order to mitigate the threat of thrombosis, components of ECMO are coated in heparin, a blood thinner.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;When Is ECMO Used?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Here are some situations where ECMO is used in newborns:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22901797&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;neonatal &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/meconium-babys-first-stool-2759060&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;meconium &amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;aspiration syndrome&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Pneumonia or other severe infection&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/congenital-diaphragmatic-hernias-surgery-3157211&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;congenital diaphragmatic hernia&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-the-most-common-birth-defects-2633264&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;congenital heart disease&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Here are some situations where ECMO is used in older children:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;post-op cardiac repair&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/aspiration-pneumonia-what-you-should-know-3157043&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;aspiration pneumonia&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;pneumonia&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/sepsis-and-septic-shock-3156848&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;sepsis&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;poisoning&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;near-drowning&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;severe asthma&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;poisoning&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The use of ECMO is finding its way into adult medicine.\u00A0 Although there&amp;amp;#39;s a paucity of evidence supporting its universal use (namely we need large randomized-control trials in order to come up with universal guidelines), case reports, retrospective studies and so forth are emerging which suggest ECMO may be useful in a wide range of conditions.\u00A0 Of note, although there are no absolute contraindications for its use, some relative contraindications, in part based on expert opinion, have been suggested including a weakened immune system (immunosuppression), severe bleeding risk (marked coagulopathy), advanced age and high BMI.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Here are some situations in which ECMO is used in adults:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;cardiac arrest secondary to acute myocardial infarction or &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/pulmonary-embolus-1746094&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;13&amp;quot;&amp;gt;pulmonary embolism&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;heart failure&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;respiratory failure secondary to &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ards/&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;14&amp;quot;&amp;gt;acute respiratory distress symptom&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (ARDS) or &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23406535&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;15&amp;quot;&amp;gt;H1N1 virus&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Two more bits on information on ECMO as it pertains to adults.\u00A0 First, unlike ventilators, ECMO avoids damaging the lungs through trauma (barotrauma) or atelectasis (lung collapse).\u00A0 Second, meta analysis (pooled research) shows that ECMO may be of limited benefit in those receiving heart transplants, those with viral cardiomyopathy (a viral infection of the heart) and those with arrhythmias that have failed to respond to conventional treatment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;On a final note, ECMO is probably a treatment you will never have to encounter in either your life or the lives of your loved ones which is fortunate; ECMO is serious business reserved for those who are very ill.\u00A0 Nevertheless, ECMO represents a promising new way to help many more people.\u00A0 Although we may never develop a life support system that doubles as a suit of armor fitting of Darth Vader, we are further refining our understanding of stationary land short-term life support.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Remember when Luke removed Darth Vader&amp;amp;#39;s mask (&amp;amp;#34;but you&amp;amp;#39;ll die!&amp;amp;#34;)?\u00A0 At this point in the trilogy, I felt a pang of sympathy for Darth Vader.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Selected Sources&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;\u201CExtracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Respiratory Failure in Adults\u201D (book chapter) by JL Cameron and AM Cameron from &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Current Surgical Therapy&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Cunningham F, Leveno KJ, Bloom SL, Spong CY, Dashe JS, Hoffman BL, Casey BM, Sheffield JS. Critical Care and Trauma. In: Cunningham F, Leveno KJ, Bloom SL, Spong CY, Dashe JS, Hoffman BL, Casey BM, Sheffield JS. eds. &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Williams Obstetrics, Twenty-Fourth Edition&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;. &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2013. \u00A0Accessed November 18, 2014.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Darst JR, Collins KK, Miyamoto SD. Cardiovascular Diseases. In: Hay WW, Jr., Levin MJ, Deterding RR, Abzug MJ. eds. &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;CURRENT Diagnosis &amp;amp;amp; Treatment: Pediatrics, 22e&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;. &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2013. Accessed November 18, 2014.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;\u201CWhat\u2019s new in ECMO: scoring the bad indications\u201D by Ken Parhar and Alain Vuylsteke from Intensive Care Medicine published on 9/3/2014.\u00A0 Accessed from PubMed on 11/17/2014.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Scales DC, Granton JT. Chapter 90. The Transplant Patient. In: Hall JB, Schmidt GA, Wood LH. eds. &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Principles of Critical Care, 3e&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt;. &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2005. Accessed November 18, 2014.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;\u00A0&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/what-is-ecmo-1123868>