Who should undertake extracorporeal membrane oxygenation?

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation-Assisted Esophagectomy

“…19,20 Nevertheless, descriptions of feasibility and demonstrated advances in technology may lead to a more extended use of ECMO as support therapy during surgery in selected complex cases. 21 In summary, although the use of ECMO support in noncardiac surgery remains anecdotal, the present experience with a single VV-ECMO cannula was a safe and feasible option in a case of transthoracic esophagectomy and reconstruction for which OLV could not be achieved by traditional means.…”

Decision‐making in response to respiratory veno‐venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation referrals: is current practice precise enough?

“…The pace at which VV‐ECMO technology is improving, together with advances in our understanding of patient care, may limit the utility of past research as a means to prognosticate for patients of the future . With regards to the future, it is likely that improvements will continue, demand will increase, there will be a need for more SRFCs and VV‐ECMO may become more widely available in the UK . Our understanding of decision‐making for such patients must keep with the pace of these advances.…”

MBRRACE‐UK – the new home for the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths – reports for the first time

“…NHS England has commissioned five providers to support a national ECMO service but not all these providers have an on-site obstetric service [13]. In the future, with technological improvements, ECMO may become more widely available to local ICUs [14].…”