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ECMO Explained: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Basics and Overview

WBM Emergency & Critical Care

51,812 views

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, is an advanced form of temporary life support used in selected patients with severe respiratory failure, cardiac failure, or cardiopulmonary collapse. In this video, we review the basics of ECMO, including how it works, major ECMO configurations, indications, physiology, complications, and practical concepts for understanding ECMO support.

Topics covered include:
• What ECMO is
• How extracorporeal membrane oxygenation works
• Oxygenator and circuit basics
• Cannulation concepts
• Veno-venous ECMO
• Veno-arterial ECMO
• Respiratory failure and VV ECMO
• Cardiac failure and VA ECMO
• Flow, sweep gas, and oxygenation
• Anticoagulation considerations
• Hemodynamic effects
• Common ECMO indications
• Common ECMO complications
• Bleeding, thrombosis, limb ischemia, and hemolysis
• Practical bedside concepts

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⚠️ Educational Disclaimer:
This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, specialist consultation, or individualized patient care.
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#ECMO
#ExtracorporealMembraneOxygenation
#CriticalCare
#RespiratoryFailure
#MedicalEducation

20 Comments

@KHItoLV1 2 years ago

Currently a first year resident and our program's introducing ECMO. Having no idea what it was before, this was a brilliant overview presentation! Thank you!

@luna.kashyap1313 2 months ago

No one has explained this so lucidly like u ❤....

@paulelkins425 5 years ago

Excellent explanation of this last resort therapy! It's amazing that anyone survives such an invasive procedure when they are already in a weakened state. While I was watching I couldn't help but recall the impressive results of aviptadil in their compassionate use cohort. Most of those C19 patients were on ECMO and still recovered after tx. Your video made me realize just how amazing their results were.

@MStClair-zk8vv 5 years ago

I know one person, a male teacher in his 50s who survived being on ECMO for several weeks. He is in rehab now, but I don’t know the state of his poor body or what his future holds. It sounds ghastly. Thanks for this, doc!

@doesthisunithave1soul46 2 years ago

I really enjoy this video. I am always interested in how others explain ECMO. Brilliant job.

@teteabanto1 5 months ago

Gracias excellent class

@surendragangawane 5 years ago

Excellent! Thanks for a great lecture!
Keep it on...!

@fmeer 2 years ago

Informative introductory video, thanks.
One point for those who may be confused:
There’s an error with the ‘Retrograde Flow’ diagram and brief explanations (even though V-A is correctly explained in the earlier drawing). Blood is not taken from the femoral artery, it is taken from a vein, and returned via an artery.

@SureshKumar-lq5zq 2 years ago

Excellent presentation❤😊
Thank you

@shelythomas1564 2 years ago

Excellent Video. thank you!!!

@aniketsharma3164 1 year ago

Excellent explanation

@patriotsplaya7 1 year ago

great video!

@raniayusuf9379 2 years ago

Extremely excellent 👏

@eugeniebreida 5 years ago

In addition to all the shared work/educating us!, your delivery style is both concise AND gentle/kindly delivered - in order not to terrorize those of us not hardened by a profession full of ‘blood & guts’.

To say, your cadence and tone of voice has your vids on my top list, a nice place to regularly visit to learn - and hear a fav yt friend!

@Yodululu99 1 year ago

This is so interesting! Insane what medicine can do to give people a second chance

@AdiKishore 1 year ago

Fantastic

@MehmetErenYuksel 4 years ago

Bravo 10/10

@eman5669 3 years ago

Excellent explanation very clear illustration , just i would like to say for indication for vv ecmo in respiratory value oxygen index value is more relevant to know than p/f ratio as these patient are already on ventilators and oxygen index is more precise in severity stratification than p/f ratio. thanks again

@davidmbeckmann 5 years ago

I have had 3 people sent to VV ECMO. All men in upper 50’s that failed full MATH+, IVM. All died; we lack a therapy to keep the diffuse alveolar damage from progressing to fibrosis in genetically predisposed patients who get huge inoculums... all current therapies do is prolong the end. Being an old lab guy, ECMO is good for blood bank as you increase oxygen delivery by transfusing... this and the plasma fun have really reinvigorated the blood bank.