Journal article
Flow monitoring of venovenous and venoarterial ECMO to detect circuit obstructions using hemodynamic modeling
Perfusion, Vol.41(6), pp.917-927
09/2026
DOI: 10.1177/02676591251389786
PMID: 41100699
Abstract
Introduction Current extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) monitoring methods for circuit obstructions have limitations. In this study, we test the hypothesis that changes in flow in a pre-existing shunt tubing of the ECMO circuit can be used as a predictor of obstructions for both venovenous (V-V) and venoarterial ECMO (V-A ECMO) circuits using a computational hemodynamic model.MethodsA custom computational hemodynamic model (CHM) representing the blood flow within the V-A ECMO and V-V ECMO circuit and native cardiovascular system was developed for a hemodynamic parametric analysis. Several degrees of obstructions within the oxygenator and outlet cannula were simulated, and the flow in the ECMO circuit and shunt was monitored to assess its sensitivity to circuit obstructions. Over 500 cases were analyzed to investigate various clinically-relevant levels of ECMO support (2 - 5.5 L/min).ResultsOur model demonstrated that shunt flow changed linearly with increasing oxygenator obstruction for all oxygenator obstruction scenarios tested, which matched experimental data. Similar relationships were also seen for all outflow cannula obstructions.ConclusionsThe findings are consistent with our hypothesis, indicating the sensitivity of the shunt flow rate as a predictor of ECMO circuit obstructions for both V-A and V-V ECMO circuits. The data supports that shunt flow responds to hemodynamic changes throughout the ECMO-patient circuit and thus can be used as an early indicator for ECMO system obstructions regardless of V-A or V-V ECMO setup, indicating its robustness as an early warning indicator of ECMO system obstructions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Flow monitoring of venovenous and venoarterial ECMO to detect circuit obstructions using hemodynamic modeling
- Creators
- Ruth White - Florida Institute of TechnologySrivats Sarathy - University of IowaAditya Badheka - University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s HospitalJoseph W Turek - Duke UniversityMadhavan L Raghavan - University of IowaVenkat Keshav Chivukula - Florida Institute of Technology
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Perfusion, Vol.41(6), pp.917-927
- DOI
- 10.1177/02676591251389786
- PMID
- 41100699
- NLM abbreviation
- Perfusion
- ISSN
- 1477-111X
- eISSN
- 1477-111X
- Publisher
- Sage
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 10/16/2025
- Date published
- 09/2026
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Critical Care; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Engineering Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9985016015102771
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