Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R) is not without risk. A range of complications may occur that may range from minor to serious. The authors are from Sapienza University of Rome, University of Toronto and Universita degli Studi di Milano.
Treatment modality: extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal
Complications:
(1) worsening of hypoxemia
(2) bleeding associated with anticoagulants
(3) heparin-induced thrombocytopenia if heparin used as anticoagulant
(4) hemolysis
(5) bleeding at cannulation sites
(6) problems with cannulation tube placement
(7) vascular occlusion
(8) thrombosis in circuit
(9) hematoma
(10) aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm formation
(11) pump malfunction
(12) oxygenator malfunction
(13) heat exchanger malfunction
(14) air embolism
(15) infection involving cannulas, sepsis, etc.
(16) clotting within the external circuit
Complications should be monitored and tracked with severity level assigned.
