Basic ECMO Nomenclature
- ECLS (Extracorporeal life support): Is the support of cardiopulmonary function using an extracorporeal circuit. This requires a minimum of a pump and membrane lung.
- ECMO (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation): a system used for oxygenation and/or cardiac support. There are different support modes for ECMO. However, the 4 common modes are:
- Venoarterial (VA ECMO): Venous drainage with systemic arterial return. This mode is used for cardiac ECMO. But it is also used for ECPR and ICSOR:
- Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR): VA ECMO support started when ROSC cannot be achieved with conventional CPR.
- Extracorporeal interval support for organ recovery (EISOR): VA ECMO support after cardiac death to maintain organ blood flow for organ transplant.
- Venovenoarterial (VVA ECMO): venous drainage with simultaneous venous and systemic arterial return.
- Venovenous (VV ECMO): venous drainage with venous return.
- Venopulmonary (VP ECMO): venous drainage with pulmonary artery return.
- Venoarterial (VA ECMO): Venous drainage with systemic arterial return. This mode is used for cardiac ECMO. But it is also used for ECPR and ICSOR:
- ECCO2R (Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal): system used for primary CO2 removal. This can be VV (VV ECCO2R) or AV (AV ECCO2R) mode. However, with the use of dual-lumen cannulas the AV mode is less commonly used for this type of support.
- ECMO (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation): a system used for oxygenation and/or cardiac support. There are different support modes for ECMO. However, the 4 common modes are:
| System | Support Mode | Condition | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECMO | VA ECMO | Cardiac failure | Cardiac ECMO, ECPR, EISOR |
| VVA ECMO | Cardiorespiratory failure | Cardiac and respiratory ECMO | |
| VV ECMO | Respiratory failure | Respiratory ECMO | |
| VP ECMO | RV/respiratory failure | Respiratory ECMO RV support | |
| ECCO2R | VV ECCO2R | CO2 retention | Lung Protection |
| AV ECCO2R |