In this example, a patient was also placed on ECMO after failing to wean from CPB. After allowing the heart to recover on ECMO for several days, the ECMO blood flow was weaned over 25 hours as illustrated in the case above. During that time, the venoarterial CO2 increased above 10 mmHg and continued to worsen as the blood flow was progressively decreased. As the ECMO flow was slowed, the patient’s own cardiac output failed to increase, causing the CO2 gradient to increase. This indicates the inability to survive off mechanical support.
Perfusion Theory is an educational platform for the Oxygen Pressure Field Theory (OPFT). August Krogh’s theoretical concept of the oxygen pressure field is explained and then applied to clinical applications in perfusion practice.