Low flow veno-venous ECMO: an experimental study.
Clinical use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and carbon dioxide removal (ECCO 2R) have become well established techniques for the treatment of severe respiratory failure; however they require full cardiopulmonary bypass, representing major procedures with high morbidity.  We theorized the possibility of an efficient low flow veno-venous extracorporeal membrane gas exchange method.  Four mongrel 12 kg dogs were submitted to veno-venous extracorporeal membrane gas exchange via a jugular dialysis catheter using a low flow (10 ml/min) roller pump and a membrane oxygenator for a period of four hours.  Respiratory rate was set at 4 breaths/min with a FiO 2 of 21% and ventilatory dead space was increased.  Adequate gas exchange was obtained (pO 2139, pCO 224, Sat 99.4%), without major hemodynamic changes or hematuria.  Our results demonstrate the feasibility of a low flow, less aggressive system.  Further research should be considered.
Department of Circulatory Support, "La Raza" Medical Center and Military School of Medicine, México City.
M
M
Calderón
R
R
Verdín
J
J
Galván
M
M
Gonzalez
H
H
Cárdenas
R
R
Campos
H
H
Vidrio
J
J
Amezcua
D000818:Animals; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004285:Dogs; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male