Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2023; 44(06): 771-776
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1772752
Review Article

Extracorporeal Life Support in Pulmonary Hypertension: Practical Aspects

Marius M. Hoeper
1   Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
2   German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Member of the European Reference Network on Rare Pulmonary Diseases (ERN-LUNG), Hannover, Germany
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS), in particular veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, has emerged as a potentially life-saving treatment modality in patients presenting with pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure refractory to conventional treatment. Used mainly as a bridge to lung transplantation, ECLS is also being used occasionally as a bridge to recovery in patients with treatable causes of right heart failure. This review article describes indications, contraindications, techniques, and outcomes of the use of ECLS in patients with PH, focusing on practical aspects in the management of such patients.



Publication History

Article published online:
14 September 2023

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