CES ECMO Equipment & Technology

Question 1

Which centrifugal pump design is most commonly used in modern ECMO systems?

Accepted Answer

Magnetically levitated impeller centrifugal pump

Answer

Roller pump with occlusive tubing

Answer

Axial flow pump

Answer

Pneumatically driven displacement pump

Question 2

What does the term 'sweep gas' refer to in an ECMO oxygenator?

Accepted Answer

The gas (oxygen/air blend) flowing through the oxygenator membrane to facilitate gas exchange

Answer

The speed at which blood flows through the circuit

Answer

The rate at which the centrifugal pump spins

Answer

The priming fluid used to fill the circuit initially

Question 3

In a hollow-fiber membrane oxygenator, which direction does CO2 most rapidly transfer?

Accepted Answer

From blood into the sweep gas (blood to gas)

Answer

From sweep gas into the blood

Answer

CO2 does not transfer across hollow-fiber membranes

Answer

Bidirectionally at equal rates

Question 4

The Avalon Elite bicaval dual-lumen cannula is designed for insertion via which access site?

Accepted Answer

Right internal jugular vein

Answer

Femoral vein

Answer

Left subclavian vein

Answer

Femoral artery

Question 5

Which ECMO circuit component is responsible for maintaining circuit temperature?

Accepted Answer

A heat exchanger (water bath heater-cooler unit) incorporated into or alongside the oxygenator

Answer

The oxygenator membrane alone

Answer

The centrifugal pump head

Answer

The circuit tubing material

Question 6

What is the primary purpose of a 'bridge connector' in an ECMO circuit?

Accepted Answer

To allow the circuit to be clamped and recirculated when the patient is briefly disconnected or during circuit changes

Answer

To connect the ECMO circuit to a hemodialysis machine

Answer

To connect the arterial and venous limbs to bypass the pump

Answer

To regulate anticoagulant delivery into the circuit