One-way valve malfunction in an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation priming circuit

Developing technologies have changed both the components and the management style when extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used to support critically ill cardiac and respiratory patients. The Cardiohelp system is a small, portable extracorporeal system just recently available within the United States. Manufacturing standards and quality processes have made mechanical failure and malfunction of extracorporeal components less common; however, there is still potential for mechanical failure or component malfunction before or during extracorporeal support. This case review describes the malfunction of a Retroguard unidirectional flow valve integrated into the priming setup of a Cardiohelp system during the priming process.