Contemporary Management of Cardiogenic Shock

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a multifactorial and hemodynamically diverse high-acuity illness that is frequently associated with multisystem organ failure. The complexity of CS requires a widespread application of best-care... read more

Contemporary Management of Cardiogenic Shock

ECMO Global Trends and Use in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

In this video, Dr. Ravi Thiagarajan, Chief of the Division of Cardiac Critical Care at Boston Children's Hospital, and Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, outlines past and present trends in ECMO use across... read more

ECMO Global Trends and Use in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Determination of Brain Death Under Extracorporeal Life Support

The worldwide use of extracorporeal lung/life support is increasing in severe lung failure (veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, vvECMO) or in cardiac arrest/severe circulatory failure (veno-arterial ECMO, vaECMO).... read more

Determination of Brain Death Under Extracorporeal Life Support

ECMO in the Critical Trauma Patient

Growing evidence suggests the potential use of Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for the treatment of refractory respiratory failure in adults, but the clinical benefit in polytraumatic patients is not clear. The... read more

ECMO in the Critical Trauma Patient

Medicating patients during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which can support gas exchange or hemodynamics in patients with severe respiratory or cardiac failure, has demonstrated considerable evolution over the last decade [1], with a steady... read more

Medicating patients during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Teen Who Walked While On Life Support is Home from Hospital

For the past 467 days, Zei Uwadia has been hospitalized on life support -- but that hasn't kept the quiet-natured teenager from walking, eating her favorite foods or even doing planks as exercise. Now, with determination... read more

Teen Who Walked While On Life Support is Home from Hospital

Predicting Mortality in Patients Undergoing VA-ECMO After CABG

Prediction scoring systems for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) have not yet been reported. This study was designed to develop a predictive score... read more

Predicting Mortality in Patients Undergoing VA-ECMO After CABG

Thromboelastography-based Anticoagulation Management During ECMO

Thromboelastography (TEG) seems to be safely used to guide anticoagulation management during ECMO. Its use was associated with the administration of lower heparin doses compared to a standard of care aPTT-based protocol.... read more

Thromboelastography-based Anticoagulation Management During ECMO

Is a Golden Age of Resuscitation on the Horizon?

Is emergency medicine on the verge of "the dawn of a new golden age of resuscitation?" That's the bold prediction from CPR innovator Keith Lurie, MD, a professor of internal and emergency medicine at the University of Minnesota,... read more

Is a Golden Age of Resuscitation on the Horizon?

Surviving Refractory Out-of-Hospital Ventricular Fibrillation Cardiac Arrest

Multi-system organ failure is ubiquitous but treatable with adequate hemodynamic support. Neurologic recovery was prolonged requiring delayed prognostication. Immediate 24/7 availability of surgical and medical specialty... read more

Surviving Refractory Out-of-Hospital Ventricular Fibrillation Cardiac Arrest

Does Lactate Clearance Prognosticates Outcomes in ECMO Therapy

Changes in lactate levels after ECMO implantation is an important tool to assess effective circulatory support and it is found superior to single lactate measurements as a prognostic sign of mortality in our study. Based... read more

Does Lactate Clearance Prognosticates Outcomes in ECMO Therapy

Comparing Percutaneous to Open Access for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Pediatric Respiratory Failure

The proportion of pediatric patients undergoing percutaneous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation is increasing. Mechanical and physiologic complications occur with both methods of cannulation, but percutaneous... read more

Comparing Percutaneous to Open Access for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Pediatric Respiratory Failure

ECMO for Severe ARDS

Mr. Jackson is a 36-year-old man whom you are caring for in the intensive care unit (ICU). Before this hospitalization, he was healthy and took no medications. He has never smoked, and he drinks three or four beers every... read more

ECMO for Severe ARDS

Functional Status Change Among Children With ECMO to Support Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in a Pediatric Cardiac ICU

This is the first extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation report to examine changes in Functional Status Scale from admission (baseline) to discharge as a measure of overall functional outcome. Half of surviving patients... read more

Functional Status Change Among Children With ECMO to Support Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in a Pediatric Cardiac ICU

What’s New in Severe Pulmonary Embolism?

Severe pulmonary embolism (PE) remains a major cause of mortality. For intensivists managing the most "severe" forms of PE, we highlight the main recent advances in the care of such patients including risk stratiļ¬cation,... read more

What’s New in Severe Pulmonary Embolism?

The Efficacy of ECMO for Severe ARDS

The H1N1 epidemic demonstrated that extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use in the most critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) resulted in a substantial decrease in mortality. The CESAR... read more

The Efficacy of ECMO for Severe ARDS

Start a Neonatal ECMO Program: A Multistep Team Training

The multistep extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) team training increased staff' knowledge, technical skills, teamwork, and self-confidence, allowing the successful development of a neonatal respiratory ECMO program.... read more

Start a Neonatal ECMO Program: A Multistep Team Training

ECMO in Sepsis

In this episode, Zack talks with Heidi Dalton about ECMO use in Sepsis. This is another controversial area with pediatric literature showing strong results while the adult results have been less impressive. Heidi has been... read more

ECMO – How can I make the best referral?

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ECMO is one of those treatments we sometimes need to think about with our very sick patients. I recently had to make a referral to my local centre and doing so made me wonder what it... read more

Resuscitation of Pulmonary Hypertension and RV Failure

A guide to the initial emergency department management of patients with pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure. It is very rare for my to write about pathophysiology, but understanding the pathophysiology of... read more

Resuscitation of Pulmonary Hypertension and RV Failure

Left Ventricular Unloading During Veno-Arterial ECMO

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) is widely used in cardiogenic shock. It provides systemic perfusion, but left ventricular (LV) unloading is suboptimal. Using a closed-loop, real-time computer model... read more

Left Ventricular Unloading During Veno-Arterial ECMO

The 16-year-old Girl Who Walks and Eats Tacos While on Life Support

In November, the otherwise healthy teen was placed on life support in the pediatric intensive care unit at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Now, more than 130 days later, Zei's determination and independence have... read more

The 16-year-old Girl Who Walks and Eats Tacos While on Life Support