What does VA stand for in VA-ECMO?

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Multiple Choice

What does VA stand for in VA-ECMO?

Explanation:
Venoarterial is the correct expansion. In VA-ECMO, blood is drawn from the venous system, oxygenated outside the body, and returned into the arterial system. Returning blood to the arteries provides both circulatory (cardiac) and oxygenation (pulmonary) support, helping perfuse the whole body when the heart and lungs aren’t functioning well. This is different from venovenous ECMO, where blood is returned to the venous system and mainly supports gas exchange rather than systemic perfusion. The standard terminology uses venoarterial to describe this circuit configuration.

Venoarterial is the correct expansion. In VA-ECMO, blood is drawn from the venous system, oxygenated outside the body, and returned into the arterial system. Returning blood to the arteries provides both circulatory (cardiac) and oxygenation (pulmonary) support, helping perfuse the whole body when the heart and lungs aren’t functioning well. This is different from venovenous ECMO, where blood is returned to the venous system and mainly supports gas exchange rather than systemic perfusion. The standard terminology uses venoarterial to describe this circuit configuration.

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