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Foundations of ECMO and ECMO Management Flashcards

7 cards from real ECMO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Foundations of ECMO and ECMO Management flashcards as text

  1. A patient on VV-ECMO has a pre-oxygenator saturation of 75% and a post-oxygenator saturation of 99%. This indicates:

    Answer: Adequate oxygenator function with normal circuit performance

    A large step-up in saturation across the oxygenator (75% to 99%) confirms the membrane lung is functioning correctly and fully oxygenating the blood.

  2. Which anticoagulant is most commonly used to maintain circuit patency during ECMO?

    Answer: Unfractionated heparin (UFH)

    Unfractionated heparin is the most widely used anticoagulant in ECMO due to its titrability, reversibility with protamine, and availability of established monitoring assays.

  3. The ACT (activated clotting time) target range typically used for monitoring anticoagulation during ECMO is:

    Answer: 180–220 seconds

    An ACT of 180–220 seconds is the most common target range for ECMO anticoagulation, balancing thrombosis prevention against bleeding risk.

  4. Plasma-free hemoglobin (pfHgb) elevation on ECMO is a marker of:

    Answer: Circuit-induced hemolysis

    Elevated plasma-free hemoglobin indicates red blood cell destruction within the circuit, signaling hemolysis that can cause renal injury and must be investigated.

  5. In ECMO management, 'chatter' of the venous drainage cannula or tubing typically indicates:

    Answer: Hypovolemia or inadequate venous return to the circuit

    Chatter (intermittent collapse) of the venous drainage line reflects inadequate preload or hypovolemia limiting the circuit's ability to maintain continuous blood flow.

  6. Which condition is considered an absolute contraindication to initiating ECMO support?

    Answer: Irreversible condition with no bridge or recovery option

    ECMO is contraindicated when the underlying condition is irreversible and no transplantation, device therapy, or meaningful recovery is possible, as it would only prolong the dying process.

  7. The ELSO (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization) Registry primarily serves to:

    Answer: Collect multicenter outcomes data to guide ECMO practice and quality improvement

    The ELSO Registry is an international database that collects ECMO case data from member centers to support research, benchmarking, and evidence-based practice improvement.