Precision Life Support: VV ECMO Management in the Modern ICU

Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Australia and New Zealand Using GRADE Methodology Series Part 1: Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VV ECMO) Indications and Management

March 7, 2026 No Comments

This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the use of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) in adult patients with severe respiratory failure. Developed using the GRADE methodology by experts across Australia and New Zealand, it evaluates indications for ECMO, management strategies, proning during ECMO, and ventilation approaches. Evidence suggests ECMO improves short-term survival in severe hypoxic respiratory failure but carries significant risks and resource demands.

Rethinking Cardiopulmonary Bypass Management in the Digital Health Era

March 7, 2026 No Comments

Minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery reduce surgical trauma and speed recovery but often require longer cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) times, increasing risks such as renal injury, neurological complications, and systemic inflammation. This review explores how digital health tools—including continuous physiologic monitoring, machine learning analytics, and digital twin simulations—can transform CPB from a static procedural metric into a dynamically optimized variable, enabling personalized perfusion strategies that improve safety and outcomes in modern cardiac surgery.