Non-cardiac surgery applications of extracorporeal circulation

Although the efficacy of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is well established for open-heart surgery, application of ECC in other surgical areas has not been given much attention. Advances in the related surgical technique and anesthetic management combined with refinements in the ECC procedure itself have encouraged several institutions to use ECC for complex non-cardiac surgeries. ECC is beginning to be used for circulatory support or tissue oxygenation during surgery on the lung, brain, liver, and kidney as well as in emergency situations. With ECC, difficult and complex surgeries can be performed more safely, and the success rate of certain surgeries has been positively affected. It is important that the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and perfusionist are trained in non-cardiac surgery applications of ECC. Thus, we review here non-cardiac uses that have emerged and summarize the related procedures.