ECMO has in the last year advanced rapidly in its prevalence and ease of use. It is becoming the standard of care for the management of severe ARDS, however, its adoption outside of relatively few large hospitals in primarily very wealthy nations has been limited. This is in part improving as the cost of the equipment and associated resources decline, however a significant barrier to its use is the expertise required to manage the patient. There are only a few existing reference books on the topic but they suffer from being too comprehensive, too basic, too theoretical or else they are too expensive for the average practitioner or hospital system to use as general reference material for training. This book is designed to be a practical guide to the management of ECMO by the entire ECMO team from specialists to physicians. It discusses the core physiological principles necessary to the understanding of its management, but also then discusses how to practically apply these principles on a day-to-day basis. It is structured in a focused and concise manner with an emphasis on translating theory to actual equipment and patients through the use of visuals. The book is divided into twelve individual sections that each contain various chapters. The first section provides an introduction to the book itself as well as the authors. The second section explains the history of ECMO. The third section focuses on program development while the fourth section is all about patient selection. The fifth section details physics and technology while the sixth and seventh sections break down the physiology. The eighth section describes cannulation and configuration while the ninth focuses on complications and emergencies. The remaining three sections detail patient management, pharmacology and anticoagulation and weaning and decannulation. Written by experts in the field, ECMO: A Practical Guide to Management targets bedside providers such as physicians and mid-level providers, however it is also a useful reference for nurses and respiratory therapists on the team. While it contains sufficient advanced material to keep more seasoned practitioners engaged, it also focuses on only the necessary and practical principles to appeal to a variety of readers.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a procedure that uses a machine to take over the work of the lungs and sometimes the heart. The system provides heart-lung bypass support using a pump to circulate blood through an artificial lung back into the bloodstream, providing enough oxygen to the patient, whilst allowing time for the lungs and heart to rest or heal during or after serious illness. ECMO is often used for babies, but can also be used for children and adults (Medline Plus). The techniques for ECMO require professionals from multidisciplinary background to be involved in the procedure. Based on the authors’ wealth of clinical experience, this book is a practical guide to the use of ECMO in cardiac and respiratory critical care. Beginning with an overview of the process, indications and patient selection, equipment and preparation, the next selection provides step by step instruction on initiation and management of ECMO, from cannulation and anticoagulation, to monitoring, ventilation and surgical intervention. The following section covers complications and troubleshooting, describing clinical scenarios and using algorithms and flowcharts to explain their management. The final chapters discuss weaning and decannulation, and ancillary issues such as record keeping protocols, the ECMO cart and inventory, and out-of-hospital ECMO. This third edition has been fully revised and updated to provide clinicians with the latest advances in the field.

Part of the Core Critical Care series, this book is an easy-to-read guide for the aspiring ECMO clinician. Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, pharmacists and all other key members of the team will learn the basics required to better understand the technology and care of the patient.

This book explores the unique aspects involved in the management of ECMO patients such as physiopathology and indications, setting up the device, monitoring ECMO and the patient, troubleshooting, ethical aspects and rehabilitation. For the past eight years, management of acute heart failure and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) patients has been improved by the development of short-term assistance devices, with ECMO as a first line treatment. This highly informative book provides essential insights for ICU nurses at ECMO centers around the world, who face the substantial challenges involved in the management of ECMO patients. Above all, it meets their training needs with regard to bedside monitoring for these patients, which has become a major issue. The editors and most of the contributors serve at La Pitié-Salpétrière ICU, France, which, in terms of the number of admissions and major publications produced, is one of the world’s leading authorities on ECMO.

This book presents a concise, evidence-based review of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for adult diseases. It describes the use of ECLS with patients who are experiencing severe hypoxemic respiratory failure (ARDS and pneumonia), ventilatory failure (status asthmaticus and COPD), cardiogenic shock and circulatory or gas exchange failure following complications in cardiothoracic surgery, as well as its use as a bridge to lung transplant. Historically, clinicians have used ECLS as a last resort; however, this text details the technological improvements, evidence of improved outcomes and adverse consequences of alternative treatments that are causing this modality to be more commonly adopted. Topics include a description of the complex physiology and technology underlying ECLS; the evidence base for its use in specific clinical conditions; vascular access techniques; daily management of the circuit and patient; guidance regarding the weaning and decannulation process and recommendations for crisis management and rehabilitation related to ECLS. Extracorporeal Life Support for Adults is ideal reading for practicing physicians, nurses, perfusion specialists, therapists and critical care trainees who are considering whether to refer their patients for ECLS or are already providing ECLS and are seeking a practical reference to best practices and updated information.

Most patients with critical cardiac or thoracic conditions will at some stage pass through the cardiothoracic critical care unit. Critical care presents more complex clinical data than any other area of medicine. The new edition of Core Topics in Cardiothoracic Critical Care focuses on the latest practise in the management of patients in cardiothoracic intensive care. The practice of cardiothoracic critical care medicine is constantly evolving, and this new edition reflects the modernized learning styles for trainees. Each chapter includes key learning points as well as sample multiple choice questions and answers to assist in exam preparation. This edition also features updated chapters on ECMO, perioperative management of patients undergoing emergency cardiothoracic surgery, and advanced modes of organ support for patients. This text provides key knowledge in a concise and accessible manner for trainees, clinicians and consultants from specialities and disciplines such as cardiology and anaesthesia, and nursing and physiotherapy.

The Difficult Airway provides a comprehensive textual and visual coverage of how to deal with patients who have expected or unexpected difficult airways. The text begins with a description of the incidence and importance of the difficult airway and then describes the ASA Difficult Airway Algorithm created to facilitate the management of “difficult airways.” The majority of the book features a comprehensive step-by-step approach to the rescue techniques listed as part of the ASA Algorithm. Noted experts in each of the techniques have been recruited by the book editors to present the information. Figures throughout the book illustrate important points and procedures. This is a wonderful resource for professionals in the health care field including anesthesiologists, intensive care physicians, emergency room physicians, nurses, and out-of-hospital first responders.