Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pregnancy and the postpartum period: a systematic review of case reports

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become an important tool in the care of adults and children with severe cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction which is resistant to conventional management. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a form of modified cardiopulmonary bypass that provides artificial ventilatory and/or mechanical circulatory support to critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICU). Venous blood is removed from the patient and pumped through an artificial membrane lung (the oxygenator), where carbon dioxide is removed and oxygen is added.
Source: International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Review article Source Type: research