Neurologic Complications and Neuromonitoring on ECMO

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is challenged by several potential complications. Adverse neurologic events such as intracranial hemorrhages, strokes, seizures, and brain death are among the most detrimental and even catastrophic of ECMO complications. There are several risk factors related to the patients, their underlying conditions and the therapy itself that predispose these patients to neurologic injuries. In this chapter, we review different types of neurological complications, the identification and management of which can be difficult. We will also discuss some of the currently available technologies for multimodal neurological monitoring as a complement to clinical exam.