Rinshō kyōbu geka = Japanese annals of thoracic surgery
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In 1970s, survival rate in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for acute respiratory failure was some around 10% even in sophisticated institutions. Most of them were treated by veno-arterial bypass along with mechanical ventilation with high air way pressure. Problems seen in this treatment modality were; difficulty in controlling bleeding and superimposed infection, mechanical problems of equipment (membrane lung, pumps, bypass circuit etc.), inadequate understanding of pathophysiology of respiratory failure. ⋯ Successful cases are seen in younger patients with short duration of respiratory failure with reversible lung diseases. Bypass time is shorter in successful cases than that in unsuccessful cases. ECMO has revisited as Bartlett says.