Intensive Care Network Podcasts

International outcomes of centres performing ECLS (extracorporeal life support) are highly variable due to differences in patient selection, cannulation technique, practitioner experience and hospital volume. We describe the experience of one of the first regional intensive care units in Australia to provide both VV (veno-venous) and rescue VA ECMO (veno-arterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation).   Methods  Review of internal registry and description of processes and procedures in an 11 bed regional general ICU without on-site cardiothoracic surgery.  Results  Over a 3.5 year period 21 patients received ECLS (90 ECMO days) with an overall 55% survival. All cannulations were peripheral. 4 patients were retrieved from peripheral site. 8 patients subsequently transferred to quaternary centre. Overall survival for VV ECMO was 64% (n=11), rescue VA ECMO (n=12, 8 from E-CPR) 33% survival.   Conclusion  Provision of ECLS (extracorporeal life support) in large regional centres is possible with outcomes similar t