Join the Johns Hopkins Thoracic Surgery Subspecialty team on this rapid research review revealing how investigative efforts have changed the way we view and use Veno-venous (VV) ECMO therapy in the pre-lung transplant patient population working to avoid ventilator dependence and the associated morbidity while facilitating continued ambulation and preoperative optimization.

Hosts:
- Dr. Alfred J. Casillan, MD, PhD
Attending Thoracic Surgeon
Johns Hopkins Hospital

- Kyla Rakoczy, MD
Johns Hopkins General Surgery Resident

References:
Awake ECMO as Bridge to Lung Transplantation Fuehner T, Kuehn C, Hadem J, Wiesner O, Gottlieb J, Tudorache I, et al. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in awake patients as bridge to lung transplantation. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2012;185(7):763–768. PMID: 22268135 Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22268135/

Predictors of Successful ECMO Bridging Tipograf Y, Salna M, Minko E, Grogan EL, Sonett JR, Bacchetta MD. Outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung transplantation. Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2019;107(5):1456–1463. PMID: 30790550 Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30790550/

Intubation Status and ECMO Bridging Outcomes Zhou AL, Jennings MR, Akbar AF, et al. Utilization and outcomes of nonintubated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung transplant. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2025;44(4):661–669. PMID: 39486773 Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39486773/

ECMO Duration and Waitlist Mortality Shou BL, Kalra A, Zhou AL, et al. Impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation bridging duration on lung transplant outcomes. Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2024;118(2):496–503. PMID: 38740080 Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38740080/

Mechanical Ventilation as a Risk Marker Mason DP, Thuita L, Alster JM, Murthy SC, Budev MM, Mehta AC, et al. Lung transplantation in recipients requiring mechanical ventilation: outcomes and risk factors. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2010;139(1):114–119. PMID: 19931096 Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19931096/

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Journal Review in Thoracic Surgery: VV ECMO in Pre-Lung Transplant Patients - A Bridge to Somewhere

Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast

Journal Review in Thoracic Surgery: VV ECMO in Pre-Lung Transplant Patients - A Bridge to Somewhere