title: Application of V-A ECMO therapies for short-term mechanical circulatory support in patients with cardiogenic shock.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to present our experience with short-term mechanical circulatory support by veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO). A series of cases is described involving patients with symptoms of severe cardiogenic shock successfully treated with V-A ECMO.
  
  
  METHODS
  Depending on indications, veno-venous (V-V) or veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO can be used. The patients described here presented symptoms of severe cardiogenic shock and the ECMO kit was successfully applied as an element of circulatory support. V-A ECMO was used as a bridge to recovery in a patient after pulmonary artery embolectomy and a bridge to heart transplantation in a patient with giant cell myocarditis; in the third case, ECMO was applied to the treatment of cardiogenic shock in deep hypothermia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of cases in which ECMO has been successfully applied in patients with cardiogenic shock and in deep hypothermia is increasingly high; therefore, it seems advisable to elaborate ECMO guidelines to be used in such situations. V-A ECMO is an effective and recognized method of treatment of patients in cardiogenic shock and deep hypothermia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, John Paul II Specialist Hospital in Krakow, Poland. r.musial@aclex.com.pl.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Musiał
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Darocha
authors.forename: Sylweriusz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kosiński
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stoliński
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sadowski
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Drwiła
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D022561:Advanced Cardiac Life Support / Q000379:methods*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D050792:Circulatory Arrest, Deep Hypothermia Induced; D017128:Embolectomy; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000601:surgery; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cardiogenic shock; deep hypothermia; extracorporeal life support; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation