Figure 1

Vascular access and cannula position. Panel (A) shows the circulatory kinetics of VV ECMO with drainage from the right internal jugular vein (RIJV) and infusion to the femoral vein (FV). The oxygenated blood from the infusion cannula (red arrow) is mixed with the venous blood in the inferior vena cava (IVC) and right atrium (RA). The mixed blood (purple arrow) flows through the lungs to the arterial side. Panel (B) shows the circulatory kinetics of VA ECMO with drainage from the RIJV and infusion to the femoral artery. The venous blood (blue arrow) flows through the lungs to the upper body without oxygenating the blood if the lung function is poor. Panel (C) shows the correct position of the draining cannula tip for VV/VA ECMO with drainage from the RIJV and infusion to the femoral vein/artery as panels (A, B). The tip should be located in the upper or middle RA to drain blood with a lower O₂ saturation from the superior vena cava (SVC). Panel (D) shows the tip locating the lower position than panel (C), where the blood from the IVC is mostly drained. Because the blood from the IVC contains more oxygen than that from the SVC, the O₂ saturation of the drained blood becomes higher; consequently, the efficiency of oxygenation by ECMO is decreasing. A-Ao denotes ascending aorta, D-Ao descending aorta, RV right ventricle, and FA femoral artery.