Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal (ECCO2R): A Potential Perioperative Tool in End Stage Lung Disease

End-stage lung disease (ESLD) is a prominent cause of mortality and perioperative morbidity worldwide.1, 2 Since ESLD may arise from a diverse range of etiologies, it is imperative that cardiothoracic anesthesiologists tailor their perioperative management to the patient's specific presenting pulmonary pathophysiology.3 Patients with ESLD may present with concomitant cardiac failure, hypoxemic failure, or isolated hypercapnic failure. The utilization of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasing in these clinical situations, however the latter category of isolated hypercapnic failure presents the clinician the opportunity to use extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R) as an alternative modality to support respiratory function.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research