Use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and anesthetic implications during airway surgery in two toddlers.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a technology used with increasing frequency to support patients in cardiac or respiratory failure refractory to conventional therapies. As technologies have improved, the clinical indications for and applications of ECMO have been increased including its use in the peri-operative setting. Use of single access, double lumen cannulas have been instrumental in optimizing venous-venous (VV ECMO) for use in the perioperative setting, particularly in the pediatric population. We report the use of VVECMO with a dual lumen Avalon® catheter during airway surgery in two pediatric patients. The potential applications of ECMO in the operating room are reviewed, options for anesthetic care discussed, and perioperative concerns reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]