NTS: ECMO: Who, What, When, Where, and Why

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an often-overlooked means of temporary life support in cardiopulmonary failure refractory to conventional medical treatment in the critically ill patient population. Delays in recognizing those who may benefit from this therapy unfortunately lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Common indications and contraindications are often overlooked and misunderstood. This talk will equip learners with a broad overview of current practices in not only patient candidacy but also appropriate patient selection for ECMO support. An evidence-based systematic approach from initial selection to patient transfer will be briefly discussed.