Mechanical Circulatory Support in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is the implementation of the cardiopulmonary bypass machine for prolonged periods of time to sustain systemic perfusion and gas exchange. The support is preferred for patients with potentially treatable pulmonary or cardiac disease. Currently, it is the most common method of mechanical circulatory support for pediatric patients. The development and improvement of this technology has allowed ECMO to progress from a salvage therapy to a commonly used treatment allowing time for cardiopulmonary recovery. Many centers have continually available rapidly deployed ECMO teams for the rapid resuscitation of patients. Some of the advantages of ECMO include rapid setup, provides both respiratory and cardiac support, reliable support with known outcomes, and a now vast clinical experience.