Heart transplant after profoundly extended ambulatory central venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a versatile mechanical circulatory support technique that may be used as salvage therapy for patients with refractory cardiorespiratory failure in the acute setting, or as a bridge to definitive management in the extended term. Ambulatory venovenous ECMO may help optimize the condition of patients with respiratory failure for lung transplantation by allowing physical therapy and preventing deconditioning.1 Experience with ambulatory venoarterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) as a bridging strategy for heart transplantation, however, is less common.
Source: The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery - Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Tags: Case report Source Type: research