Minimally invasive central venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for long-term ambulatory support as a bridge to heart-lung transplant.

ABSTRACT

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is becoming a key tool for bridge to heart, lung, or heart-lung transplantation, and ambulatory ECMO support offers many advantages to prepare the patients. We here present a case of successful en bloc heart and lung transplantation after long-term ambulatory support with a minimally invasive central venoarterial ECMO approach as bridge to transplant.