Emergency Physicians MonthlyEPM Talk Ep. 68 – ED ECMO and the Future of Cardiac Arrest: Part 1

In this video, Zack Shinar, MD, discusses the future of cardiac arrest and the role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the emergency department (ED). Dr. Shinar is a leading expert in ECMO and has been instrumental in developing new protocols for its use in the ED.

Dr. Shinar begins by discussing the current state of CPR. He notes that CPR is only effective in about 10% of cases, and that even when it is successful, patients often suffer significant brain damage. He then discusses ECMO, which is a life-support machine that can oxygenate the blood outside of the body. ECMO has been shown to be effective in saving the lives of patients with cardiac arrest, and Dr. Shinar believes that it should be used more widely in the ED.

Dr. Shinar then discusses the challenges of using ECMO in the ED. He notes that ECMO is a complex procedure that requires specialized training and equipment. He also notes that ECMO can be expensive, and that it is not always available in all hospitals.