Abstract
As the ground for discussion on ECMO in this symposium, the past history, present status of ECMO, terminology of acronyms, methods, results, and indications based on our past experienecs are presented. Though the acronym of ECMO has been replaced, on many occasions, by such as ECLA, ECLHA, ECCO2R, ELS, AREC, etc. ECMO is still used in general. Neonatal ECMO has been increasing explossively in the U.S.A. in the past several years. Both neonatal and adult ECMO have begun to increase in European countries and Japan. ECMO will become one of the most powerful means of life support for patients with cardiopulmonary failure provided that the problem of blood compatibility of the circuit is solved. A veno-arterial ECMO is also effective for cerebral resuscitation. Therefore, a portable and manually operated ELS circuit, with a self inflating blood reservoir as a pump, has been made for an emergency. By squeezing the reservoir, blood is infused into an artery through an artificial lung.
