ECMO EXAMINATION PREP SHEET 2026
FULLY SOLVED GRADED A+
⫸ Membrane oxygenation. Answer: oxygenator is a piece of
equipment that acts as the lungs
⫸ How does ECMO work?. Answer: Venous blood is taken from the
patient, oxygenator removes CO2 and adds O2, blood is heated to
body temperature and then a pump returns oxygenated blood back to
the patient.
⫸ Centerfuge. Answer: acts as the heart, pulls blood from the heart
and pushes back to the aorta
⫸ Types of ECMO. Answer: VA or Veno-Arterial & VV or Veno-
Venous
⫸ VA or Veno-Arterial. Answer: -Bypass the heart and lungs
-Allows gas exchange and hemodynamic support while blood is
pumped from the venous to the arterial side.
⫸ VV or Veno-Venous. Answer: -Bypass lungs
-Facilitates gas exchange; blood is removed from the venous side and
then pumped back into it, but does to provide hemodynamic support.
(Refer to slide 9 for visual)
, ⫸ VA ECMO notes. Answer: -higher PaO2 is achieved
- lower perfusion rates are needed
- bypass pulmonary circulation
- decreases pulmonary artery pressures
- provided cardia support to assist systemic circulation
- requires arterial cannulation
⫸ VV ECMO notes. Answer: - lower PaO2 is achieved
- higher perfusion rates are needed
- maintains pulmonary blood flow
- elevates mixed venous PO2
- does not provide cardiac support to assist systemic circulation
- requires only venous cannulation
⫸ Indication for VA ECMO. Answer: - refractory cariogenic shock
- cardiopulmonary arrest
- failure to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass after cardiac surgery
- as a bridge to placement of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or
heart transplant.
⫸ Indications for VV ECMO. Answer: - hypoxemia respiratory
failure with a P/F rain <100 mmHg despite optimal ventilator settings
(i.e. FiO2 of 100%, PEEP 12, ect.)
- hypercapnia respiratory failure with an arterial pH < 7.20
FULLY SOLVED GRADED A+
⫸ Membrane oxygenation. Answer: oxygenator is a piece of
equipment that acts as the lungs
⫸ How does ECMO work?. Answer: Venous blood is taken from the
patient, oxygenator removes CO2 and adds O2, blood is heated to
body temperature and then a pump returns oxygenated blood back to
the patient.
⫸ Centerfuge. Answer: acts as the heart, pulls blood from the heart
and pushes back to the aorta
⫸ Types of ECMO. Answer: VA or Veno-Arterial & VV or Veno-
Venous
⫸ VA or Veno-Arterial. Answer: -Bypass the heart and lungs
-Allows gas exchange and hemodynamic support while blood is
pumped from the venous to the arterial side.
⫸ VV or Veno-Venous. Answer: -Bypass lungs
-Facilitates gas exchange; blood is removed from the venous side and
then pumped back into it, but does to provide hemodynamic support.
(Refer to slide 9 for visual)
, ⫸ VA ECMO notes. Answer: -higher PaO2 is achieved
- lower perfusion rates are needed
- bypass pulmonary circulation
- decreases pulmonary artery pressures
- provided cardia support to assist systemic circulation
- requires arterial cannulation
⫸ VV ECMO notes. Answer: - lower PaO2 is achieved
- higher perfusion rates are needed
- maintains pulmonary blood flow
- elevates mixed venous PO2
- does not provide cardiac support to assist systemic circulation
- requires only venous cannulation
⫸ Indication for VA ECMO. Answer: - refractory cariogenic shock
- cardiopulmonary arrest
- failure to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass after cardiac surgery
- as a bridge to placement of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or
heart transplant.
⫸ Indications for VV ECMO. Answer: - hypoxemia respiratory
failure with a P/F rain <100 mmHg despite optimal ventilator settings
(i.e. FiO2 of 100%, PEEP 12, ect.)
- hypercapnia respiratory failure with an arterial pH < 7.20
