• Carlo Banfi, Matteo Pozzi, Nils Siegenthaler, Marie-Eve Brunner, Didier Tassaux, Jean-Francois Obadia, Karim Bendjelid, and Raphaël Giraud.
• Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland;; Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland;; Geneva Hemodynamic Research Group, Geneva, Switzerland.
• J Thorac Dis. 2016 Dec 1; 8 (12): 3762-3773.

AbstractThe development of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) technology allows a new approach for the intensive care management of acute cardiac and/or respiratory failure in adult patients who are not responsive to conventional treatment. Current ECMO therapies provide a variety of options for the multidisciplinary teams who are involved in the management of these critically ill patients. In this regard, veno-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO) can provide quite complete respiratory support, even if this highly complex technique presents substantial risks, such as bleeding, thromboembolic events and infection. While VV-ECMO circuits usually include the cannulation of two vessels (double cannulation) in its classic configuration, the use of a single cannula is now possible for VV-ECMO support. Recently, experienced centers have employed more advanced approaches by cannulating three vessels (triple cannulation) which follows veno-arterio-venous (VAV) or veno-arterio-pulmonary-arterial cannulation (VAPa). However, 'triple' cannulation expands the field of application but increases the complexity of ECMO systems. In the present review, the authors focus on the indications for VV-ECMO, patient assessment prior to cannulation, the role of ultrasound-guided vessel puncture, double lumen single bicaval cannulations, and finally triple cannulation in VV-ECMO.

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