What condition may require the use of ECMO in patients?

The use of ECMO, or Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, is often indicated in cases of severe respiratory failure. This condition refers to a situation where the lungs are unable to provide adequate oxygenation or remove carbon dioxide from the blood, leading to critical respiratory insufficiency. ECMO serves as a life-saving intervention by taking over these functions—oxygenating the blood and eliminating carbon dioxide—thereby allowing the lungs time to heal in cases of conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), severe pneumonia, or other significant pulmonary impairments.

While other conditions like low cardiac output and hypotensive crisis are indeed serious and may require different forms of advanced support such as circulatory assistance or vasopressor agents, they are not the primary indications for ECMO. Stable angina, on the other hand, is typically a chronic condition managed with medications and lifestyle changes rather than interventions like ECMO.