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Updated: May 14, 2026
Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Mouse
Published on: October 24, 2018
Preparation and technical considerations for percutaneous cannulation for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane
Kathleen M Lamb1, Hitoshi Hirose, Nicholas C Cavarocchi
1Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Background:
The most frequent limb complications from peripheral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) are limb ischemia and localized bleeding. To minimize these risks, perfusion of the distal limb with peripheral percutaneous cannulation was done.
Technique:
Percutaneous cannulation with a distal perfusion port was performed in all patients. During the VA-ECMO, distal limb perfusion was monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy to assess tissue oxygenation. At the decannulation, patch angioplasty was performed to prevent the development of narrowing of the artery at the cannulation site.
Conclusions:
Using our standard technique, we have not experienced any limb loss related to ischemia or bleeding.
