Table 4.

Indications to cardiac ECMO according to the ELSO guidelines (33).

Use of extracorporeal life support for cardiac failure should be considered for patients with evidence of inadequate end organ perfusion and oxygen delivery resulting from inadequate systemic cardiac output
(a) Hypotension despite maximum doses of two inotropic or vasopressor medications.
(b) Low cardiac output with evidence of end organ malperfusion despite medical support as described above: persistent oliguria, diminished peripheral pulses.
(c) Low cardiac output with mixed venous, or superior caval central venous (for single ventricle patients) oxygen saturation <50% despite maximal medical support.
(d) Low cardiac output with persistent lactate >4.0 mmol/l and persistent upward trend despite optimization of volume status and maximal medical management.