1. Diagram of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) (A) and venoarterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) (B) and patient circulation.
Diagram of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) (A) and venoarterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) (B) and patient circulation. Arrows indicate the direction of blood flow through the stylized chambers of the heart, represented by squares. The arrow connecting the right ventricle to the left atrium represents native pulmonary circulation. The heart shape represents the ECMO circuit with pump, oxygenator, and heater. The relative width of the arrows reflects proportional blood flow through the heart chambers and the ECMO circuit. The relative shading of the arrows and outlines of the heart chambers reflects the degree of oxygenation. Systemic venous circulation carries blue blood, contribution of native pulmonary function to oxygenation results in pink blood, the most highly oxygenated blood going from the ECMO circuit to the patient is bright red, and the resultant mixing of highly oxygenated ECMO blood and poorly or partially oxygenated blood leaving the native pulmonary circulation results in dark red blood.
John C Lin Respir Care 2017;62:
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