The effect of initiation of VV ECMO on PaO2.
The effect of initiation of VV ECMO is shown in this figure. Before ECMO, the patient is ventilated on 100% oxygen and has a 'shunt fraction' of more than 0.65. He is consuming 220 ml/min of oxygen and has a PaO2 of ~ 42 mm Hg.
VV ECMO is initiated at 2.5 lpm and after five minutes the PaO2 has risen to 58 mm Hg. At this time, the ECMO flow rate is increased to 4.8 lpm - which results in a further rise in PaO2 (to ~ 75 mm Hg).
Throughout the experiment, the patient remains ventilated on 100% oxygen. The V:Q ratio of the artificial lung is maintained at 1.0.