membranes Review Physiological Basis of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal in Respiratory Failure Barbara Ficial 1, Francesco Vasques 1, Joe Zhang 1, Stephen Whebell 1 , Michael Slattery 1, Tomas Lamas 2 , Kathleen Daly 1, Nicola Agnew 1 and Luigi Camporota 1,3,* 1 Department of Adult Critical Care, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s Health Partners, London SE1 7EH, UK; barbara.fi
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[email protected] Abstract: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for severe respiratory failure has seen an exponential growth in recent years. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and extracorporeal CO2 removal (ECCO2R) represent two modalities that can provide full or partial support of the native lung function, when mechanical ventilation is either unable to achieve sufficient gas exchange to meet metabolic demands, or when its intensity is considered injurious. While the use of ECMO has Citation: Ficial, B.; Vasques, F.; defined indications in clinical practice, ECCO2R remains a promising technique, whose safety and Zhang, J.; Whebell, S.; Slattery, M.; efficacy are still being investigated. Understanding the physiological principles of gas exchange Lamas, T.; Daly, K.; Agnew, N.; during respiratory ECLS and the interactions with native gas exchange and haemodynamics are Camporota, L.