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.
- 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.

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
ECCO₂R	AV ECCO₂R	CO₂ retention	Lung Protection

Extracorporeal life support nomenclature

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