Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Book excerpt: "Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation : An Interdisciplinary Problem-Based Learning Approach" provides an overview of the latest techniques, management strategies and technology surrounding the clinical use of ECMO. This interdisciplinary book reviews the most common scenarios of ECMO in 62 chapters exploring the conditions and problems arising in ECMO practice. Each chapter begins with a stem case, followed by open questions to encourage critical thinking and enable the reader to follow the management strategies of the authors, who are world leaders in the field. Followed by an evidence-based discussion, each chapter concludes with multiple-choice questions for self-assessment. This book is current in its knowledge of organ systems and management and keeps pace with new ECMO technology and surgical techniques coupled with current guidelines for management. Starting with the history of ECMO to technical aspects, circuit biocompatibility and interaction with blood, drugs and flow physics, the volume continues into pediatric and adult sections, focussing on both respiratory and cardiovascular support, followed by a section on trauma. The volume then concludes with a section on neurologic complications and ethics, as well as rehabilitation and ambulation of ECMO patients. In addition, to reflect the current global health situation, this book also includes a chapter on ECMO management in patients suffering with COVID-19, to cover the most urgent and pressing questions around ECMO during the ongoing pandemic. This is the first ECMO book on the market to utilise a problem-based learning approach and as such is an important unprecedented project on ECMO education.