ECMO ADVANCED CRITICAL CARE
EXAM 2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS.
ECMO Definition - ANS Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is the use of a
cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for temporary life support for patients with potentially
reversible cardiac/ and or respiratory failure.
Membrane oxygenation - ANS oxygenator is a piece of equipment that acts as the lungs
How does ECMO work? - ANS 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 - ANS acts as the heart, pulls blood from the heart and pushes back to the aorta
Types of ECMO - ANS VA or Veno-Arterial & VV or Veno-Venous
VA or Veno-Arterial - ANS -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 - ANS -Bypass lungs
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, -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 - ANS -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 - ANS - 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 - ANS - 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 - ANS - 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
- Pulmonary embolism not affecting cardiac function
- pneumonia
- murray score of 3 or greater
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
EXAM 2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS.
ECMO Definition - ANS Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is the use of a
cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for temporary life support for patients with potentially
reversible cardiac/ and or respiratory failure.
Membrane oxygenation - ANS oxygenator is a piece of equipment that acts as the lungs
How does ECMO work? - ANS 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 - ANS acts as the heart, pulls blood from the heart and pushes back to the aorta
Types of ECMO - ANS VA or Veno-Arterial & VV or Veno-Venous
VA or Veno-Arterial - ANS -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 - ANS -Bypass lungs
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, -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 - ANS -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 - ANS - 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 - ANS - 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 - ANS - 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
- Pulmonary embolism not affecting cardiac function
- pneumonia
- murray score of 3 or greater
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
