Table 3.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria for study B

Inclusion criteria

Patients receiving VA-ECMO for any reason

Dopamine/dobutamine < 5 μg/kg/min, no administration of adrenaline or norepinephrine

Within 7 days after initiation of VA-ECMO

Exclusion criteria

Age < 18 years

Receiving ECMO bridging to heart transplantation

Contraindications or intolerance to beta-blockers

Moderate or severe bronchial asthma attack or history of bronchial asthma

Sinus bradycardia (heart rate < 60 bpm)

Type II second-degree or third-degree AVB

Allergy to esmolol

Receiving ECMO again during hospitalization or respiratory failure has already initiated VV-ECMO or extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal device before the initiation of VA-ECMO of this time

Have been on beta-blocker treatment after initiation of ECMO

Women at child-bearing age, pregnant or positive pregnancy test

ECMO extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, AVB atrioventricular block, VA-ECMO veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, VV-ECMO veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation