Commentary: Never let semantics get in the way of a good idea

Central MessageThe addition of cannulas for patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) should be called “extended” ECMO and should be in the armamentarium of heart failure surgeons.See Article page 77. The addition of cannulas for patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) should be called “extended” ECMO and should be in the armamentarium of heart failure surgeons. See Article page 77. The Latin “hybrida,” refers to “offspring of a tamed sow and a wild boar.” In biology, it is commonly used to refer to animals and plants of heterogenous lineage. Its application is traditionally the same in technology. A hybrid car combines 2 different energy sources for propulsion. In cardiovascular medicine, hybrid revascularization represents the combination of 2 different strategies—percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting—to restore coronary circulation. Therefore, in its modern use, a hybrid refers to something that combines 2 distinctly different technologies with different mechanisms to achieve the same clinical outcome. In this issue of JTCVS Techniques, Shah and colleagues2Shah A. Sagar D. Goerlich C.E. Kaczorowski D.J. Hybrid and parallel extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuits.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Tech. 2021; 8: 77-85Scopus (3) Google Scholar provide a comprehensive summary of various configurations of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuits that can be used when a traditional circuit strategy does not adequately meet the patient's physiological demands. Importantly, the authors focus on strategies that augment ECMO with additional ECMO cannulas depending on the physiological need rather than with other short-term mechanical circulatory adjuncts. Over the years, numerous devices for short-term mechanical circulatory support, including the intra-aortic balloon pump, Impella, and TandemHeart, have been invented, studied, and put into clinical use. These devices are inherently different than ECMO, but all serve to augment cardiac output. When used as an adjunct to ECMO for left ventricular venting, these “hybrid” short-term mechanical circulatory support models have been shown to improve survival in patients with cardiogenic shock.3Russo J.J. Aleksova N. Pitcher I. Couture E. Parlow S. Faraz M. et al.Left ventricular unloading during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with cardiogenic shock.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019; 73: 654-662Crossref PubMed Scopus (132) Google Scholar These are truly hybrid technologies, as their applied mechanisms are completely different. On the other hand, when additional ECMO configurations are added to existing circuits, often a different part of the cardiopulmonary physiological demand is augmented using the same technology as the original circuit. Therefore, venous-venoarterial, venovenous-arterial, or parallel ECMO circuits perhaps should be more appropriated called “extended” ECMO, as they represent the use of the same ECMO equipment and strategy to adequately meet physiological demands. As the authors describe, ECMO can be “extended” by the addition of cannulas to improve drainage, facilitate oxygenation, or increase cardiac output. Both extended ECMO and hybrid strategies with short-term mechanical circulatory support are important tools in our armamentarium for critically ill patients. Understanding both strategies will allow the clinician to tailor therapy to the patient's physiological needs and minimize complications. Shah and colleagues are to be commended for their effort in detailing the approaches and considerations for extended ECMO as a potential option in the management of these critically ill patients. Hybrid and parallel extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuitsJTCVS TechniquesVol. 8PreviewAssociate Editor Note—Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been around since the 1950s and remains a tool for the management of patients with refractory respiratory or circulatory failure. The authors of this Invited Expert Opinion address modifications to traditional circuitry when peripheral cannulation does not appear sufficient and augmentation of venous drainage or ECMO flow is necessary. Although conversion to central cannulation is one option, expansion of the existing circuit to incorporate either a hybrid approach (eg, transitioning from veno-venous ECMO to veno-arteriovenous ECMO in the setting of refractory hypoxia or declining cardiac function) is another option. Full-Text PDF Open Access

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