Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation for the post-cardiotomy patient.

ABSTRACT

Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation remains the last resort in keeping patients alive in those with profound cardiogenic shock following percutaneous interventions or open surgery on the heart. No guidelines exist on the management of patients on such a device despite a high mortality. We attempt to highlight some universal principles that would be relevant to the current practice of those exposed to this challenging field.