Indications and limitations of ECMO therapy: Considerations on evidence, treatment decisions and ethical challenges

Abstract

The present work sheds light on the possibilities and limitations of modern extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy in the case of heart or lung failure. Since the number of applications of extracorporeal lung and heart/lung replacement procedures has increased dramatically in the last few years in severely ill patients, decision-making for a meaningful indication and in the course of a possible therapy target change has become particularly difficult, especially with regard to the complex situation in organ transplantation in Germany. An attempt is made to elucidate the dilemma between data from large controlled trials and epidemiological studies and the patients’ individuality.