ECMO Practical Manual

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a procedure that uses a machine to take over the work of the lungs and sometimes the heart. The system provides heart-lung bypass support using a pump to circulate blood through an artificial lung back into the bloodstream, providing enough oxygen to the patient, whilst allowing time for the lungs and heart to rest or heal during or after serious illness. ECMO is often used for babies, but can also be used for children and adults (Medline Plus). The techniques for ECMO require professionals from multidisciplinary background to be involved in the procedure.

Based on the authors’ wealth of clinical experience, this book is a practical guide to the use of ECMO in cardiac and respiratory critical care.

Beginning with an overview of the process, indications and patient selection, equipment and preparation, the next selection provides step by step instruction on initiation and management of ECMO, from cannulation and anticoagulation, to monitoring, ventilation and surgical intervention.

The following section covers complications and troubleshooting, describing clinical scenarios and using algorithms and flowcharts to explain their management.

The final chapters discuss weaning and decannulation, and ancillary issues such as record keeping protocols, the ECMO cart and inventory, and out-of-hospital ECMO.

This third edition has been fully revised and updated to provide clinicians with the latest advances in the field.