Table 1.
Differences between extracorporeal life support techniques and ex-situ thoracic organ perfusion.
| ECMO | CPB | ESOP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application of artificial materials/components | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connection to body | Connected | Connected | Non-connected |
| Duration | Days to weeks | Minutes to hours | Minutes to hours |
| Hemodilution | No | Yes | Yes |
| Anticoagulation | Low-dose heparin | High-dose Heparin | High-dose Heparin |
| Reversal of anticoagulation | No | Yes (protamine) | No |
| Hypothermia | No | Yes | Variable |
| Air-blood interface | No (closed-circuit) | Yes (there are some closed-circuit variants) | Yes |
| Pulsatility | Variable with mode | No | Variable (dependent on device) |
ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; CPB, cardiopulmonary bypass; ESOP, ex-situ thoracic organ perfusion.