Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS): A Review and Focus on Considerations for COVID-19

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Pregnant and Postpartum Patients

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has seen increasing use for critically ill pregnant and postpartum patients over the past decade. Growing experience continues to demonstrate the feasibility of ECMO in obstetric patients and attest to its favorable outcomes. However, the interaction of pregnancy physiology with ECMO life support requires careful planning and adaptation for success. Additionally, the maintenance of fetal oxygenation and perfusion is essential for safely continuing pregnancy during ECMO support. This review summarizes the considerations for use of ECMO in obstetric patients and how to address these concerns.

Acute Circulatory Collapse and Advanced Therapies in Patients with COVID-19 Infection

In the current era of the COVID-19 pandemic, intensive care patients with COVID-19 often develop respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome. While less frequent, acute circulatory collapse, with or without respiratory failure, has its own management challenges and nuances. Early identification of acute circulatory collapse requires appropriate imaging, particularly echocardiography, and precise diagnosis of cardiogenic shock using a Swan-Ganz catheter. Escalation to mechanical circulatory support (MCS), such as an intra-aortic balloon pump, Impella, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, has been useful in patients with acute circulatory collapse from COVID-19. This condition is associated with high morbidity and mortality, but early recognition of appropriate candidates for specific treatment strategies and escalation to MCS might improve outcomes.