Brain injury in extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation: translational to clinical research

Abstract

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to treat patients with cardiac arrest (CA) was first described in 1957 when several patients with CA refractory to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCPR) including open cardiac massage were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), allowing time for an attempt at definitive management [1]. A percutaneous system for ECMO cannulation initiated at the bedside was successfully implanted in five patients in 1983 by Phillips et al. [2]. PercutaneeISSN 2508-1349