ECMO for cardiac support in children.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), designed to support the lungs in respiratory failure, is less familiar to the nurse who cares for ECMO patients when it is used to support the smaller child or neonate after cardiac surgery. An overview of ECMO, a description of the physiologic response to the ECMO circuit, and a discussion of myocardial function of the patient receiving ECMO are presented. The article focuses on the challenges posed by cardiac ECMO and the nursing care required to meet them. The unique problems addressed include variations in patient cannulation, left ventricular venting, hemostasis issues, the need for hemofiltration, and problems associated with evaluating cardiac function of the patient receiving ECMO.