Published online Dec 20, 2019. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v8.i8.135
Peer-review started: October 15, 2019
First decision: October 25, 2019
Revised: November 28, 2019
Accepted: November 28, 2019
Article in press: November 28, 2019
Published online: December 20, 2019
Very little is known about the role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for the management of patients undergoing major aortic surgery with particular reference to aortic dissection.
To review the available literature to determine if there was any evidence.
A systematic literature search through PubMed and EMBASE was undertaken according to specific key words.
The search resulted in 29 publications relevant to the subject: 1 brief communication, 1 surgical technique report, 1 invited commentary, 1 retrospective case review, 1 observational study, 4 retrospective reviews, 13 case reports and 7 conference abstracts. A total of 194 patients were included in these publications of whom 77 survived.
Although there is no compelling evidence for or against the use of ECMO in major aortic surgery or dissection, it is enough to justify its use in this patient population despite current adverse attitude.
Core tip: The subject of our review remains controversial in the absence of clear evidence but mainly based on opinions and speculations. We believe that such a timely review may contribute to reconsider current thinking and address the subject with an open mind.