Management Strategies for Severe Respiratory Failure: As Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Is Being Considered

Pulmonary and critical care physicians must be facile in recognition and management of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Part of the current critical care knowledge base must include an understanding of how extracorporeal membrane oxygenation fits into the paradigm of ARDS management without using it as a "salvage therapy." This article provides a basic understanding of the evolution of ARDS to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, recognizing benefits and limits of rescue therapies, indications and contraindications of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and coordination of care for severe respiratory failure.