Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Strategy in Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest (CA) is a catastrophic event with high mortality rate. Poor prognosis is influenced by many factors relating both to time before return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and to post-resuscitation care. Over time, many attempts to promote greater adherence to life-support chain and to guidelines recommendations have been performed with little benefit for survival. In 1960s, the first extracorporeal circulation devices were designed to promptly support peripheral perfusion in patients with circulatory collapse, albeit with doubtful utility. Advance in technologies made them safer and more feasible, thus allowing more extended use and improving CA outcomes. Although extracorporeal circulation performed by well-trained teams remains an indicated therapy only in carefully selected patients, we believe that it represents an important therapeutic option in CA patients.