COMPREHENSIVE ECMO AND ECLS:
PHYSIOLOGY, INDICATIONS, AND
MANAGEMENT. EXAM 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS.
What is Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS)? - ANS A mechanical support system circulating
blood outside the body through a mechanical gas exchanger before returning it.
What is the most common form of ECLS? - ANS ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane
Oxygenation).
When is ECMO used? - ANS For severe acute heart/lung failure when conventional therapies
fail.
Does ECMO treat the disease? - ANS No—ECMO does not heal the condition; it provides life-
saving temporary support.
What are the primary goals of ECMO? - ANS Provide oxygen delivery, remove CO₂, allow
lungs/heart to rest or bridge to transplant.
Why are RTs suited for ECMO specialist roles? - ANS Strong science background,
cardiopulmonary physiology knowledge, and technical skill.
What is the definition of ECMO? - ANS Circulates blood through an external mechanical gas
exchanger and returns it to the body.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, When is ECMO considered inappropriate? - ANS Irreversible conditions, no treatment
options, high likelihood of poor neuro outcome.
What conditions originally dominated neonatal ECMO (1980s)? - ANS MAS, RDS, sepsis, CDH,
PPHN.
What are survival rates for newborn ECMO? - ANS 51%-94% depending on diagnosis.
What are neonatal ECMO absolute contraindications? - ANS Lethal anomalies, severe
irreversible brain damage, Grade III+ ICH.
What are neonatal relative contraindications? - ANS <2 kg birth weight, <34 weeks GA,
irreversible organ damage, MV >10-14 days, poor prognosis diseases.
What is the trend in neonatal ECMO? - ANS Significant decrease (<10% of annual runs) due to
surfactant and nitric oxide therapy.
What is the trend in pediatric and adult ECMO cases? - ANS Increasing due to better long-
term support and management strategies.
In which ECMO uses do main increases occur? - ANS Cardiac support and bridge to lung
transplant.
What are adult absolute contraindications to ECMO? - ANS Acute ICH/stroke, mechanical
ventilation >7 days, CPR >60 min, irrecoverable heart disease, end-stage liver disease,
anticoagulation contraindication.
What are adult relative contraindications? - ANS Advanced age, active cancer, CKD,
multiorgan failure (>3 organs).
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
PHYSIOLOGY, INDICATIONS, AND
MANAGEMENT. EXAM 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS.
What is Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS)? - ANS A mechanical support system circulating
blood outside the body through a mechanical gas exchanger before returning it.
What is the most common form of ECLS? - ANS ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane
Oxygenation).
When is ECMO used? - ANS For severe acute heart/lung failure when conventional therapies
fail.
Does ECMO treat the disease? - ANS No—ECMO does not heal the condition; it provides life-
saving temporary support.
What are the primary goals of ECMO? - ANS Provide oxygen delivery, remove CO₂, allow
lungs/heart to rest or bridge to transplant.
Why are RTs suited for ECMO specialist roles? - ANS Strong science background,
cardiopulmonary physiology knowledge, and technical skill.
What is the definition of ECMO? - ANS Circulates blood through an external mechanical gas
exchanger and returns it to the body.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, When is ECMO considered inappropriate? - ANS Irreversible conditions, no treatment
options, high likelihood of poor neuro outcome.
What conditions originally dominated neonatal ECMO (1980s)? - ANS MAS, RDS, sepsis, CDH,
PPHN.
What are survival rates for newborn ECMO? - ANS 51%-94% depending on diagnosis.
What are neonatal ECMO absolute contraindications? - ANS Lethal anomalies, severe
irreversible brain damage, Grade III+ ICH.
What are neonatal relative contraindications? - ANS <2 kg birth weight, <34 weeks GA,
irreversible organ damage, MV >10-14 days, poor prognosis diseases.
What is the trend in neonatal ECMO? - ANS Significant decrease (<10% of annual runs) due to
surfactant and nitric oxide therapy.
What is the trend in pediatric and adult ECMO cases? - ANS Increasing due to better long-
term support and management strategies.
In which ECMO uses do main increases occur? - ANS Cardiac support and bridge to lung
transplant.
What are adult absolute contraindications to ECMO? - ANS Acute ICH/stroke, mechanical
ventilation >7 days, CPR >60 min, irrecoverable heart disease, end-stage liver disease,
anticoagulation contraindication.
What are adult relative contraindications? - ANS Advanced age, active cancer, CKD,
multiorgan failure (>3 organs).
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
