ECMO as a bridge to high-risk rotablation of heavily calcified coronary arteries

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) with short-term ventricular assist devices has been used as a bridge to high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), as well as during interventions and in the post-procedural recovery period. Percutaneous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used when full cardiopulmonary support is necessary due to severe biventricular and pulmonary dysfunction. Prompted by two cases of high-risk rotablation of heavily calcified coronary arteries where ECMO was used as a bridge to intervention and post-intervention recovery, we reviewed the bibliography and the new guidelines on cardiac revascularization with regard to the utility of MCS devices in high-risk PCI cases.