Use of dilutional ultrasound monitoring to detect changes in recirculation during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in swine.

Since recirculation during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) reduces oxygen delivery to the patient, monitoring recirculation is necessary to guide clinicians in interventions that may reduce recirculation and thereby optimize patient care. The use of dilutional ultrasound may be a clinically practical way to quantify recirculation during VV ECMO. This study evaluates in a swine model of VV ECMO a dilutional ultrasound techniques ability to provide accurate recirculation data under changing conditions.