Medication Complications in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Crit Care Clin. 2017 Oct;33(4):897-920. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2017.06.010.

Abstract

The need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy is a marker of disease severity for which multiple medications are required. The therapy causes physiologic changes that impact drug pharmacokinetics. These changes can lead to exposure-driven decreases in efficacy or increased incidence of side effects. The pharmacokinetic changes are drug specific and largely undefined for most drugs. We review available drug dosing data and provide guidance for use in the ECMO patient population.

Keywords: Pharmacokinetics; Pharmacology; Therapeutic drug monitoring.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions*
  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation*
  • Humans
  • Pharmacokinetics*