• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support to tissue oxygenation has been shown to improve survival in patients with life threatening respiratory distress syndrome or cardiac failure. Extracorporeal life support such as ECMO, including extracorporeal $CO_2$ removal ($ECCO_2R$), is used as temporary support until successful recovery of organs. A recently published multicentre randomized controlled trial, known as the CESAR (conventional ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe adult respiratory failure) trial, was the first trial to demonstrate the utility of ECMO in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). During the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, there were many reports of patients with severe ARDS related to H1N1 infection treated with ECMO. These reports revealed a high survival rate and effectiveness of ECMO. In this review, we explain the indication of ECMO clinical application, the practical types of ECMO, and complications associated with ECMO. In addition, we explain recent new ECMO technology and management of patients during ECMO support.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.60-62
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• 1994

Pulmonary edema and respiratory failure is uncommon but fatal complications associated with major operations of the lung, especially after pneumonectomy. The extracorporeal membrane oxygenation[ECMO] is quite often used in infants with severe respiratory failure and congenital heart disease which is well documented in the literature. In adults, the results of ECMO is comparatively poor to those found in neonates. We have experienced a case of ECMO applied on a 48 year old male who had respiratory failure after pneumonectomy, and the patient was successfully weaned from bypass. Unfortunately however, the patient expired on postoperative 15 day due to multiorgan failure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.104-107
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• 2010

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is difficult to treat and it is often fatal. If the medical treatment for ARDS is not effective, then extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be applied to the patient. A 22-year-old female who suffered multiple traumatic injuries due to a car accident presented with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Veinarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) was started to treat her respiratory failure. With the VA ECMO, the systemic oxygen saturation remained at only 84%, and so the ECMO system was switched to V-VA ECMO via an additional venous outflow through the right jugular vein to increase both the systemic and pulmonary oxygen saturation. After conversion to the V-VA type ECMO, the systemic oxygen saturation increased to 94% and the partial pressure of oxygen ($PaO_2$) increased to 65 mmHg. We report here on a successful case of ECMO conversion from the VA type to the V-VA type in a patient with severely hypoxic respiratory failure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.348-355
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• 2021

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a rare disease often requiring mechanical ventilation after birth. In severe cases, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be needed. This study analyzed the outcomes of patients with CDH treated with ECMO and investigated factors related to in-hospital mortality. Methods: Among 254 newborns diagnosed with CDH between 2008 and 2020, 51 patients needed ECMO support. At Asan Medical Center, a multidisciplinary team approach has been applied for managing newborns with CDH since 2018. Outcomes were compared between hospital survivors and nonsurvivors. Results: ECMO was established at a median of 17 hours after birth. The mean birth weight was 3.1±0.5 kg. Twenty-three patients (23/51, 45.1%) were weaned from ECMO, and 16 patients (16/51, 31.4%) survived to discharge. The ECMO mode was veno-venous in 24 patients (47.1%) and veno-arterial in 27 patients (52.9%). Most cannulations (50/51, 98%) were accomplished through a transverse cervical incision. No significant between-group differences in baseline characteristics and prenatal indices were observed. The oxygenation index (1 hour before: 90.0 vs. 51.0, p=0.005) and blood lactate level (peak: 7.9 vs. 5.2 mmol/L, p=0.023) before ECMO were higher in nonsurvivors. Major bleeding during ECMO more frequently occurred in nonsurvivors (57.1% vs. 12.5%, p=0.007). In the multivariate analysis, the oxygenation index measured at 1 hour before ECMO initiation was identified as a significant risk factor for in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.04; p=0.05). Conclusion: The survival of neonates after ECMO for CDH is suboptimal. Timely application of ECMO is crucial for better survival outcomes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.236-239
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• 2011

Indication for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been extended as the experience of ECMO in various clinical settings accumulates and the outcome after ECMO installation improves. We report two cases of successful mitral valve surgery for severe ischemic mitral regurgitation in patients on ECMO support for cardiogenic shock which developed upon coronary angiography.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.188-195
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• 2021

Acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) occurs as an inflammatory response to an initial myocardial insult. Its rapid and deadly progression calls for prompt diagnosis with aggressive treatment measures. The demonstration of its excellent recovery potential has led to increasing use of mechanical circulatory support, especially extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Arrhythmias, organ failure, elevated cardiac biomarkers, and decreased ventricular function at presentation predict requirement for ECMO. In these patients, ECMO should be considered earlier as the clinical course of AFM can be unpredictable and can lead to rapid haemodynamic collapse. Key uncertainties that clinicians face when managing children with AFM such as timing of initiation of ECMO and left ventricular decompression need further investigation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.225-229
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• 2024

Venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a lifesaving technique for patients experiencing respiratory failure. When VV ECMO fails to provide adequate support despite optimal settings, alternative strategies may be employed. One option is to add another venous cannula to increase venous drainage, while another is to insert an additional arterial return cannula to assist cardiac function. Alternatively, a separate ECMO circuit can be implemented to function in parallel with the existing circuit. We present a case in which the parallel ECMO method was used in a 63-year-old man with respiratory failure due to coronavirus disease 2019, combined with cardiac dysfunction. We installed an additional venoarterial ECMO circuit alongside the existing VV ECMO circuit and successfully weaned the patient from both types of ECMO. In this report, we share our experience and discuss this method.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.12 s.257
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• pp.860-862
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• 2005

We describe a case of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in a male adult with lung cancer To achieve the successful operation of lung cancer, we used percutaneous veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during whole lung lavage (WLL) of the contralateral lung. We performed successful WLL under ECMO support.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.155-158
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• 2011

Mechanical ventilation is usually the treatment of choice for severe respiratory failure associated with trauma. However, in case of severe hypoxia, mechanical ventilation may not be sufficient for gas exchange in lungs. Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) undergo difficulties in oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is the ideal therapeutic option for those patients with severe traumatic injuries. ECMO allows lungs to reserve their functions and decreases further lung injuries while increasing survival rate at the same time. We report two cases of patients with traumatic ARDS and Multiple Organ Failure including compromised heart function. The preservation of lung function was successful using ECMO therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.211-214
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• 2017

Outcomes of ventricular septal rupture (VSR) as a complication of acute myocardial infarction are extremely poor, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 45% in surgically treated patients and 90% in patients managed with medication. Delaying surgery for VSR is a strategy for reducing mortality. However, hemodynamic instability is the main problem with this strategy. In the present case, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was used to provide stable hemodynamic support before the delayed surgery. Awake ECMO was also used to avoiding the complications of sedatives and mechanical ventilation. Here, we describe a successful operation using awake ECMO as a bridge to surgery.