Microembolic signals and strategy to prevent gas embolism during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) supplies systemic blood perfusion and gas exchange in patients with cardiopulmonary failure. The current literature lacks of papers reporting the possible risks of microembolism among the complications of this treatment.In this study we present our preliminary experience on brain blood flow velocity and emboli detection through the transcranial Doppler monitoring during ECMO.

Methods

Six patients suffering of heart failure, four after cardiac surgery and two after cardiopulmonary resuscitation were treated with ECMO and submitted to transcranial doppler monitoring to accomplish the neurophysiological evaluation for coma.Four patients had a full extracorporeal flow supply while in the remaining two patients the support was

SUBMITTER: Zanatta P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2825509 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature