Ep. 30 ECMO for Cardiologists: Practical Insights & Management with Dr. Allison Dupont

Understanding when to use extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (and how) can be extra complex, but knowing the intricacies of ECMO is key to using it effectively. In this episode of BackTable Cardiology, Dr. Hady Lichaa sits down with Dr. Allison Dupont to approach ECMO in a practical, clinically relevant way. They cover the fundamentals, including VV versus VA ECMO, circuit components, and key settings like flow, oxygenation, and CO2 removal. --- Get the BackTable apphttps://www.backtable.com/app --- Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction03:19 - What Is ECMO12:19 - Who Should Get ECMO16:12 - ECPR Criteria and Triage29:45 - Access Strategy32:43 - Low Flow Troubleshooting44:24 - Anticoagulation Protocols48:21 - Chugging Volume Alarms50:25 - Weaning Off ECMO55:22 - Building An ECMO Program --- More about this episode The conversation also dives into real-world application, including cannulation strategies, typical flow parameters, troubleshooting low flow, preventing limb ischemia, and managing anticoagulation. They explore advanced topics like LAVA-ECMO for valvular disease, ECPR protocols inspired by the ARREST Trial, and how to think about patient selection and “bridge” strategies. Dr. DuPont finishes with practical insights on weaning, LV unloading, bleeding management, and what it takes to successfully build an ECMO program with a multidisciplinary team.---ResourcesDr. Hady Lichaa’s Provider Profilehttps://healthcare.ascension.org/find-care/provider/1336267533/hady-lichaaDr. Allison Dupont’s Provider Profilehttps://northsidecvi.com/providers/our-cardiologists/allison-dupontAdvanced reperfusion strategies for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and refractory ventricular fibrillation (ARREST): a phase 2, single centre, open-label, randomised controlled trialhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33197396/