- Possible causes and management of low O2 saturation on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
| Cause | Solution | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ↓ ECMO blood flow | ↑ ECMO blood flow (↑RPMs) | Look for cause |
| ↓ Hemoglobin | ↑ Hemoglobin (transfusion) | Look for bleeding |
| Inadequate FiO2 or ventilator support | ↑ FiO2 on ECMO↑ Ventilator support | Look for cause |
| Too much flow through shunts or bridges (such as, contentious renal replacement therapy) | Check and reduce shunt flow | |
| Oxygenator failure | Check pre- and post-oxygenator blood gases | If yes → change |
| Pneumothorax | Chest x-ray |