Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The field of extracorporeal life support, which has focused predominantly on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the past, is undergoing rapid expansion following years of stagnation as newer devices and improved technology have become available. Additionally, new cannulae and cannulation techniques have allowed extracorporeal life support to be expanded to many groups who would have been excluded from support in the past. REVIEW: This update will review the current state of the art since Rogers' Textbook of Pediatric Intensive Care (Fourth Edition) was published several years ago. The changing environment of extracorporeal support in terms of patient populations, technological advances, patient management, and outcome will be discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Continued examination of the criteria and circumstances where extracorporeal life support is applied as well as outcomes which include morbidity, cost effectiveness, and quality of life are needed areas of continued research. Increasing collaborations between all centers performing extracorporeal life support throughout the world should remain a priority to further research and understanding of this complex field. Copyright © 2012 by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies.