Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a powerful mechanical circulatory support modality capable of rapidly restoring systemic perfusion yet lacking in defined approaches to management. Adopting a management approach based physiologic principles provides a basis for care.

Current evidence detailing the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to support patients in cardiogenic shock is limited to isolated case reports and single institution case series focused on patient outcomes but lacking in detailed approaches to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation management.

Unlike medical therapy, in which dosages are either prescribed or carefully titrated to specific variables, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a mechanical support therapy requiring ongoing titration but without widely accepted variables to guide treatment.

Data were obtained from a PubMed search of the most recent medical literature identified from MeSH terms: extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, cardiogenic shock, percutaneous mechanical circulatory support, and heart failure. Articles included original articles, case reports, and review articles.

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