Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and lethal diseases: a new perspective

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pulmonology
• Oncology
• Infectious Diseases
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Cancer and chronic viral diseases pose significant global health burdens.
• Drug development for these conditions is resource-intensive.
• Acute cardiac and pulmonary toxicity frequently halts promising drug development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of advanced ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in managing treatment-induced toxicities.
• To hypothesize ECMO's utility in enabling the use of otherwise rejected chemotoxic agents.
• To propose ECMO as a supportive measure for treating life-threatening cancers and viral infections.

Main Methods:

• Review of technological advancements in ECMO.
• Analysis of ECMO's established role in acute cardio-pulmonary support.
• Hypothetical application of ECMO to mitigate chemotoxicity in oncology and virology.

Main Results:

• Recent technological improvements have reduced ECMO complication rates.
• ECMO has demonstrated success in managing acute, life-threatening cardiac and pulmonary toxicity.
• The study posits ECMO can create a safe environment for administering potent drugs.

Conclusions:

• Advanced ECMO technology offers a potential solution to overcome drug-induced cardio-pulmonary toxicity.
• This approach could facilitate the re-evaluation and use of promising but previously discarded therapeutic compounds.
• ECMO may open new therapeutic avenues for lethal cancers and untreatable viral diseases.