ECMO SPECIALIST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
What is Poisueille's Law? - Answer- This law describes the flow of fluids through a
length of tubing.
Factors including viscosity, pressure gradient across tubing, length and diameter of
tubing to determine flow.
Increasing this will have the most impact on oxygen delivery VA ECMO? - Answer-
ECMO Circuit Blood Flow (ECBF)
Cardiac Tamponade, Hypovolemia, and creased intrathoracic pressure can lead to this
ECMO disturbance - Answer- Inadequate Venous Return
Cannula location, ECBF, and LVEF determine the location of this ECMO Phenomenon:
- Answer- Mixing cloud
This is one of the earliest signs of inadequate oxygen delivery (Do2) - Answer- SVO2
Decreased patient temperature, sedatives, paralytics, and increased vent syncrony, will
decrease this physiological foe? - Answer- Oxygen consumption
The review of code status, open line, and location of emergency equipment w/ BSRN
takes place anytime there is a change in RNES staff - Answer- Crisis Plan reviewed
with BSRN
This micro emergency is most often caused by IV fluid or Medication pushes - Answer-
Micro Air in the circuit
What is the first action in the event of 'no flow' following significant line chatter - Answer-
Decrease ECMO RPM's
Torn Vessels, aortic dissection, blood loss, and arrhythmias are - Answer-
Complications of cannulations
This is the question to ask yourself before considering CPR on a VA ECMO patient -
Answer- Do we still have ECBF?
, In V-A ECMO blood gas optimization is titrated according to this - Answer- Arterial
Blood Gas
Kinks, clots, small cannula size, hasty sampling techniques, high water bath temp are
causes of what - Answer- Hemolysis
This invasive hemodynamic monitoring device is helpful in recognizing Harlequin
syndrome in peripheral V-A ECMO pt.'s - Answer- A Right radial or brachial arterial line
This is the first action to be taken when the ECMO pump fails on a V-A ECMO pt -
Answer- Clamp the arterial outflow
This is often administered to ECMO pt to correct low fibrinogen levels - Answer-
Cryoprecipitate
The use of this tool can effectively mask a fever - Answer- Heater/cooler
An increase in this hemodynamic will decrease ECBF when using a centrifugal pump -
Answer- afterload
This trending tool measures tissue and cerebral oximetry - Answer- Near Infrared
Spectroscopy (NIRS)
These are the two methods for limb protection in peripheral V-A ECMO - Answer- Distal
Perfusion Catheter and Hemashield graft
This is one direct and one indirect LV venting device - Answer- Impella and IABP
Intravascular volume status, resistance within the circuit, cannula size and SVR
contribute to this ECMO parameter - Answer- ECMO Blood Flow
Increasing pINT, increasing pART and decreasing ECBF signal this - Answer-
increasing blood pressure/afterload
Increasing pINT, decreasing pART, and decreasing ECBF signal this - Answer-
resistance within the oxygenator
This ECMO phenomenon occurs during peripheral V-A ECMO when cardiac function
has recovered but lung function remains impaired - Answer- Differential hypoxemia/
north south syndrome/ harlequin syndrome
This type of ECMO results in integrate blood flow - Answer- Central cannulation
A patient with this type of shunt/defect is likely to have decreased patient PO2 - Answer-
A Right to left shunt
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
What is Poisueille's Law? - Answer- This law describes the flow of fluids through a
length of tubing.
Factors including viscosity, pressure gradient across tubing, length and diameter of
tubing to determine flow.
Increasing this will have the most impact on oxygen delivery VA ECMO? - Answer-
ECMO Circuit Blood Flow (ECBF)
Cardiac Tamponade, Hypovolemia, and creased intrathoracic pressure can lead to this
ECMO disturbance - Answer- Inadequate Venous Return
Cannula location, ECBF, and LVEF determine the location of this ECMO Phenomenon:
- Answer- Mixing cloud
This is one of the earliest signs of inadequate oxygen delivery (Do2) - Answer- SVO2
Decreased patient temperature, sedatives, paralytics, and increased vent syncrony, will
decrease this physiological foe? - Answer- Oxygen consumption
The review of code status, open line, and location of emergency equipment w/ BSRN
takes place anytime there is a change in RNES staff - Answer- Crisis Plan reviewed
with BSRN
This micro emergency is most often caused by IV fluid or Medication pushes - Answer-
Micro Air in the circuit
What is the first action in the event of 'no flow' following significant line chatter - Answer-
Decrease ECMO RPM's
Torn Vessels, aortic dissection, blood loss, and arrhythmias are - Answer-
Complications of cannulations
This is the question to ask yourself before considering CPR on a VA ECMO patient -
Answer- Do we still have ECBF?
, In V-A ECMO blood gas optimization is titrated according to this - Answer- Arterial
Blood Gas
Kinks, clots, small cannula size, hasty sampling techniques, high water bath temp are
causes of what - Answer- Hemolysis
This invasive hemodynamic monitoring device is helpful in recognizing Harlequin
syndrome in peripheral V-A ECMO pt.'s - Answer- A Right radial or brachial arterial line
This is the first action to be taken when the ECMO pump fails on a V-A ECMO pt -
Answer- Clamp the arterial outflow
This is often administered to ECMO pt to correct low fibrinogen levels - Answer-
Cryoprecipitate
The use of this tool can effectively mask a fever - Answer- Heater/cooler
An increase in this hemodynamic will decrease ECBF when using a centrifugal pump -
Answer- afterload
This trending tool measures tissue and cerebral oximetry - Answer- Near Infrared
Spectroscopy (NIRS)
These are the two methods for limb protection in peripheral V-A ECMO - Answer- Distal
Perfusion Catheter and Hemashield graft
This is one direct and one indirect LV venting device - Answer- Impella and IABP
Intravascular volume status, resistance within the circuit, cannula size and SVR
contribute to this ECMO parameter - Answer- ECMO Blood Flow
Increasing pINT, increasing pART and decreasing ECBF signal this - Answer-
increasing blood pressure/afterload
Increasing pINT, decreasing pART, and decreasing ECBF signal this - Answer-
resistance within the oxygenator
This ECMO phenomenon occurs during peripheral V-A ECMO when cardiac function
has recovered but lung function remains impaired - Answer- Differential hypoxemia/
north south syndrome/ harlequin syndrome
This type of ECMO results in integrate blood flow - Answer- Central cannulation
A patient with this type of shunt/defect is likely to have decreased patient PO2 - Answer-
A Right to left shunt
