Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for acute heart failure in adults

The Committee noted that the interpretation of evidence on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for acute heart failure in adults was complicated by the different indications in published reports.

The Committee recognised that ECMO provides only short-term support, so it is important to have a strategy for management after ECMO before using the procedure. The Committee was advised that patient selection is fundamental to the success of ECMO, and that the procedure should only be used in patients whose condition is refractory to other treatments, and who have acute heart failure that is likely to recover spontaneously (for example, myocarditis) or for whom there is a clear plan for subsequent intervention (such as cardiac transplantation). The Committee was also advised that ECMO may need to be withdrawn for patients whose heart failure either will not recover or is not suitable for further treatment.

The Committee noted that the technology for this procedure is evolving.