ECMO-TO-GO: Application of a portable on the body veno-arterial ECMO device in a bridge-to-transplantation setting

Abstract

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a well-established therapy to bridge heart- and lung-failure patients to recovery, transplantation, or permanent assist devices. However, it is often associated with thorough patient immobility resulting in an increased hospital length-of-stay and inferior outcomes. To address the challenge of immobility on temporary mechanical support system (tMCS), the “ECMO TO GO” concept was developed to offer full patient mobilization. We present the successful application of a wearable ECMO device. With this setup, the patient was successfully and recurrently mobilized and could walk >200 m on hospital floors. No complications or adverse events occurred during the mobilization procedure.

Keywords

• temporary mechanical assist device
• extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
• ECMO
• mobilization
• TandemHeart
• Voyager Vest