Middle East Heart Congress

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is an established therapy in the management of patients with refractory cardiogenic shock or acute respiratory failure. Th e use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for severe Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) is growing rapidly given recent advances in technology, even though there is controversy regarding the evidence justifying its use. Because ECMO is a complex, high-risk, and costly modality, at present it should be conducted in centers with suffi cient experience, volume and expertise to ensure it is used safely. We are oft en faced with institutions trying to determine if it is worth developing a formal ECMO program. Many institutions have been doing ECMO for many years but are now considering formalizing their program and processes. But the expense to do this could be signifi cant. The development of a successful Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program requires an institutional commitment and the multidisciplinary cooperation of trained specialty personnel from nursing, internal medicine, anesthesiology, pulmonology, emergency medicine, critical care, and surgery and oft en pediatrics as well. Th e specialized training is necessary to cultivate an integrated team capable of providing life-saving ECMO cannot be underestimated. Th e development of a successful ECMO program is best suited to a tertiary medical center that is centrally/regionally located and capable of fi nancially supporting the level of expertise required as well as managing the program’s overall cost eff ectiveness.