Episode 26 - Lets Talk About ECMO featuring Dr. Hitesh Gidwani

Summary: What do you do when the vent is maxed, the pressors are climbing, and your usual resuscitation playbook is no longer enough? In this episode of The Learning Curve, Dr. Irtaza Asar sits down with ECMO expert Dr. Hitesh Gidwani to break down one of critical care’s most powerful rescue tools: ECMO. Together, they unpack when to start thinking about ECMO, how to tell the difference between VV and VA ECMO, and how to recognize the patient who may benefit before it is too late. Dr. Gidwani shares practical decision-making frameworks, common pitfalls to avoid, and lessons from over a decade of ECMO experience. From crashing patients to limb ischemia to the big-picture question of whether ECMO is truly the right bridge, this episode makes a complex topic feel practical, approachable, and clinically relevant. A must-listen for anyone who takes care of sick patients and wants to better understand what happens when conventional resuscitation isn’t enough.