Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) is widely used in treatment of decompensated heart failure. Our aim was
to investigate its effects on regional perfusion and tissueoxygenation with respect to extracorporeal blood flow (EBF). In five swine, decompensated low-output chronic heart failure was induced by long-term rapid ventricular pacing. Subsequently, VA ECMO was introduced and left ventricular (LV) volume, aorticblood pressure, regional arterial flow and tissue oxygenation
were continuously recorded at different levels of EBF. With increasing
EBF from minimal to 5 l/min, mean arterial pressureincreased from 47±22 to
84±12 mm Hg (P<0.001) and arterial blood flow increased in carotid artery
from 211±72 to 479±58 ml/min (P<0.01) and in subclavian artery from 103
±49 to 296±54 ml/min (P<0.001). Corresponding brain and brachial tissue oxygenation increased promptly from 57±6 to 74±3 % and from 37±6 to
77±6 %, respectively (both P<0.01).Presented results confirm that
VA ECMO is a capable form of heart support. Regional arterial flow and tissue oxygenationsuggest that partial circulatory support may be sufficient to supply brain and peripheral tissue by oxygen.