Veno-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) is considered to be the technique of choice by most experts for short term extracorporeal mechanical assist. VA-ECMO has several advantages compared to other devices: It merges support of both ventricles with gas exchange in case of pulmonary failure; implantation is relatively easy and accumulating costs are reasonable. Yet, it has to be kept in mind, that VA-ECMO is a short-term support bridging patients to recovery, to decision or to other support options like VADs or heart transplantation. The risk of complications is substantial, and sub-optimal handling will lessen survival.

Therefore, experience with power and limits of the technique is important for selecting appropriate indications, and management of a patient on VA-ECMO has to be scrutinized permanently. EuroELSO, the European branch of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), is dedicated to the improvement of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation both in circulatory and respiratory failure and offers you a broad range of expert information to advance knowledge on VA-ECMO and ultimately improve patient outcomes.