title: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for adult cardiovascular failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the utility and technical challenges of applying veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute cardiovascular failure in adults with acute and chronic causes of heart failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The role of mechanical circulatory support in acute cardiovascular continues to evolve as technology and clinical experience develop. There is increasing interest in the role of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridging therapy and as an adjunct to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is an expensive, complex, resource intensive support. It is essential that its future use be guided by evidence obtained from centres that have demonstrated timely, safe support.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Intensive Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, The Alfred Hospital bDivision of Clinical Sciences and Department of Surgery, Central Clinical School, Monash University cSchool of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University dAustralian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.forename: Lisen E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Hockings
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome