ECMO Cannulation Techniques

Abstract

An extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit consists of a pump and a membrane oxygenator. This circuit can interface with the human body in a variety of cannulation strategies to provide different forms and levels of support. These various support techniques can be divided into two broad categories: those designed to support the body's respiratory functions (lungs) and those designed to support the body's blood circulation (heart). In this chapter we discuss various cannulation techniques used.