>>20191341The anon you responded to was correct. ECMO isn't 100% efficient in perfusion. And it's a last resort when positive pressure ventilation can't handle all ventilatory/metabolic requirements. The peripheral body parts (fingers, toes) can eventually go necrotic. You have to amputate to avoid septicemia.
>You should only intubate when the patient's body isn't moving the muscles. There are a few indications for ventilation. One being acute respiratory failure/distress. You also have surgery and a few specific indications.
>You can add an apnea machine if you want positive pressure. Sticking a high pressure hose down a dude's throat under induced coma is asking to kill.Not true. There are no "apnea machines." CPAP and O2 devices do not ventilate. BiPAP is for spontaneous breathing only (despite the backup rate). Medically induced comas will use vents the majority of the time.
ECMO goes hand in hand with mechanical ventilation. People on vents are normally drugged up so they don't fight it (until the underlying issues are controlled and weaning can begin). The perfusionist, ECMO tech, and RRT will handle the ECMO device and ventilator in the meantime.