Raef Fadel, Anas Al-Suraimi, Fares Sukhon, Li Pang, Vikas Aggarwal, Ahmad Jabri, Mir Babar Basir, Brittany Fuller, Asaad Nakhle, Khaldoon Alaswad, Mohammad Alqarqaz
Risk of limb ischemia in patients on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is minimized with the use of distal perfusion catheters (DPCs). However, conventional sheaths utilize a flow-limiting side port connection, reducing efficacy. We report 5 cases wherein we utilized a commercially available DPC with a removable side port in patients treated with VA-ECMO. The use of a DPC without a side port increased flow by 220% when compared to the use of a DPC with a side port. No patients experienced limb ischemia while on VA-ECMO.