Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is a type of CPR that uses a venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) machine to help people when conventional CPR does not work. The goal of ECPR is to restore circulation and gas exchange, and to allow time for other interventions.
In VA ECMO, blood is taken from the venous system (usually from the femoral vein or the right atrium) and pumped through an oxygenator, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. It is then returned to the arterial system, usually through the femoral or axillary artery, or the ascending aorta. People are usually given a continuous infusion of an anticoagulant, usually heparin, to prevent blood clotting in the extracorporeal system. ECPR is used when conventional CPR is unable to restore spontaneous circulation.