Skin microvascular morphology and hemodynamics during treatment with veno-arterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation.

Objectives: To explore the potentials of microcirculatory assessments for predicting outcome of patients treated with extra corporeal membrane oxygenation for cardiogenic shock.

Methods: Eight patients with acute cardiogenic shock treated with ECMO and eight healthy controls were examined with skin vital microscopy and laser Doppler perfusion measurements.

Results: Three patients died on ECMO (group 1).