Application of V-A ECMO therapies for short-term mechanical circulatory support in patients with cardiogenic shock.

Background: The aim of the study was to present our experience with short-term mechanical circulatory support by veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO). A series of cases is described involving patients with symptoms of severe cardiogenic shock successfully treated with V-A ECMO.

Case Reports: Depending on indications, veno-venous (V-V) or veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO can be used. The patients described here presented symptoms of severe cardiogenic shock and the ECMO kit was successfully applied as an element of circulatory support. V-A ECMO was used as a bridge to recovery in a patient after pulmonary artery embolectomy and a bridge to heart transplantation in a patient with giant cell myocarditis; in the third case, ECMO was applied to the treatment of cardiogenic shock in deep hypothermia.

Conclusions: The number of cases in which ECMO has been successfully applied in patients with cardiogenic shock and in deep hypothermia is increasingly high; therefore, it seems advisable to elaborate ECMO guidelines to be used in such situations. V-A ECMO is an effective and recognized method of treatment of patients in cardiogenic shock and deep hypothermia.