Use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and anesthetic implications during airway surgery in two toddlers.

Abstract

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a technology used with increasing frequency to support pa- tients in cardiac or respiratory failure refractory to con- ventional therapies. As technologies have improved, the clinical indications for and applications of ECMO have been increased including its use in the peri-operative set- ting. Use of single access, double lumen cannulas have been instrumental in optimizing venous-venous (VV ECMO) for use in the perioperative setting, particularly in the pediatric population. We report the use of VV- ECMO with a dual lumen Avalon® catheter during air- way surgery in two pediatric patients. The potential applications of ECMO in the operating room are re- viewed, options for anesthetic care discussed, and peri- operative concerns reviewed.

Keywords

• extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; venous-venous ecmo; airway surgery; pediatric anesthesia