Meeting Report on the International Conference of ECMO-Life Support for Pakistan in 21st Century held May 11-12, 2017, Lahore

摘要

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (ECMO) is indicated in severe heart or lung failure with 80 percent or more risk of mortality. In experienced centers, overall survival to discharge ranges from 40 percent in cardiac arrest with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) to 70 percent for respiratory failure in adults. Overall survival in children is about 80 percent and newborns with severe lung injury can recover to normal function following prolonged ECMO support, thus, re-defining irreversible lung injury. In the future, ECMO will be automatically controlled with care out of the Intensive care units (ICU) or at home. The International Conference of ECMO-Life Support for Pakistan in 21st Century which was recently held in Lahore, Pakistan on May 11 - 12, 2017. It was to bring together the best of cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons, heart failure cardiologist, adult and pediatric intensivists, pulmonologists, anaesthetists, cardiovascular nurses, postgraduate trainees, para-medical staff, perfusionists, ambulance cardiac first responders and cardiovascular scientists for thought provoking evidence based discussions on the direction and flow of ECMO technology for Pakistan and the Developing World in the next decade. The aim of this conference was to share knowledge on ECMO technologies, advancements and their impact on the health capacity building.