Table 2.

Weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

	Weaning trial	Criteria for ECMO withdrawal
Venovenous ECMO	FECO2 = 21%	Pplat < 25 to 30 cmH2O with TV around 6 ml/kg and PEEP < 12 cmH2O
	Sweep gas flow 1 L/minute or stopped	and PaO2 > 70 mmHg on FiO2 < 60% or PaO2/FiO2 > 200 mmHg
	Duration: several hours	and pH > 7.3 with PCO2 < 50 mmHg
		and no acute cor pulmonale
Arteriovenous ECMO	FECO2 = 21%	Pplat < 25 to 30 cmH2O with TV around 6 ml/kg and PEEP < 12 cmH2O
	Sweep gas flow 1 L/minute	and PaO2 > 70 mmHg on FiO2 < 60% or PaO2/FiO2 > 200 mmHg
	Reduce pump blood flow by steps of 0.5 L/minute	and pH > 7.3 with PCO2 < 50 mmHg
	Duration: several hours	and no acute cor pulmonale
		without left ventricular failure:
		left ventricular ejection fraction > 25 to 30%
		velocity-time integral > 12 cm

F_ECO₂, oxygen fraction delivered by the extracorporeal circuit; Pplat, plateau pressure; PEEP, positive end-expiratory pressure; TV, tidal volume.