ECMO, ECCO2R: From origins to date

Abstract

This article reviews the history of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) from the first successful case reported at the beginning of the seventies till the recent extensive ECMO use in the intensive care unit to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome, especially following the 2011 H1N1 flu epidemics. ECMO development was contemporary with the improvements in ARDS ventilation and the development of various complementary techniques including extracorporeal CO₂ removal (ECCO₂R). However, despite the evidence already obtained, the definitive benefit and indications of ECMO to treat ARDS remain to be established. The history is still continuing.