The Future of Research on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

Since extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was introduced as a treatment modality for respiratory failure in 1972 by Hill et al.,[1] it has provided support to patients with inadequate oxygen delivery for days to weeks. Clinicians have used ECMO to increase oxygen delivery in severe lung disease, ineffective cardiac output from circulatory failure, or combined cardiopulmonary failure. ECMO has typically been applied in rescue situations that were refractory to conventional therapy.[2] Recently, researchers in the U.S., Germany, and Taiwan reported a rapid increase in the use of ECMO in their countries.[3-5] Diseases such as the H1N1 pandemic influenza,[6] the development of ECMO technology,[7] and the publication of randomized clinical trials have likely contributed to an increase in the use of ECMO.