FINAL EXAM: ECMO QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What is another name for the venous reservoir in an ECMO circuit?
A. The filter
B. The oxygenator
C. The bladder
D. The pump - Correct Answers -C
Sweep flow in ECMO refers to:
A. Blood flow
B. Gas flow
C. Circuit pressure
D. Hemodynamic flow - Correct Answers -B
VA ECMO provides:
A. Only ventilatory support
B. Partial cardiopulmonary bypass (cardiac + pulmonary support)
C. Primarily CO₂ removal
D. Right heart bypass only - Correct Answers -B
Pump flow in ECMO depends on:
A. Patient's oxygen content
B. Ventilator FiO₂
C. Patient's preload and afterload
D. Hemoglobin level - Correct Answers -C
Which ECMO type provides only ventilatory support?
A. VA ECMO
B. AV ECMO
C. VV ECMO
D. None - Correct Answers -C
Which ECMO type is primarily for CO₂ removal and requires the patient's own
hemodynamics for flow?
A. VV ECMO
B. VA ECMO
C. AV ECMO
D. None - Correct Answers -C
, What is the bedside test primarily used to monitor anticoagulation in ECMO?
A. INR
B. PT/PTT
C. Activated Clotting Time (ACT)
D. Platelet count - Correct Answers -C
What are the primary goals of ECMO?
A. To bypass the kidneys and liver
B. To support only oxygenation
C. Provide oxygen delivery and remove CO₂ while lungs/heart recover or await
transplant D. To reduce preload and afterload - Correct Answers -C
What are the three general types of ECMO?
A. VA, VV, AV
B. AV, RV, LV
C. Pulmonary, systemic, cardiac
D. Arterial, venous, mixed - Correct Answers -A
In pediatric and adult patients, ECMO is most commonly used for:
A. Renal replacement therapy
B. Cardiac support and as a bridge to lung transplant
C. Neurologic injury prevention
D. Gastrointestinal bleeding - Correct Answers -B
What two components make up total oxygen content in blood?
A. Plasma and platelets
B. Oxygen dissolved in plasma + hemoglobin-bound oxygen
C. RBC mass and PaO₂
D. Preload and afterload - Correct Answers -b
ECMO equipment essentially functions to:
A. Remove nitrogen from blood
B. Pump blood, deliver oxygen, remove CO₂ C. Increase preload
D. Replace hemoglobin - Correct Answers -B
Which type of tubing is best for ECMO circuits?
A. Long tubing to reduce turbulence
B. Shortest possible tubing to reduce resistance and circuit volume
C. Tubing larger than ½ inch
D. Any type—length doesn't matter - Correct Answers -B
Where does drained blood go after leaving the patient?
A. Directly into the lungs
B. Into the circuit via a centrifugal or roller pump
C. To the venous reservoir only
ANSWERS
What is another name for the venous reservoir in an ECMO circuit?
A. The filter
B. The oxygenator
C. The bladder
D. The pump - Correct Answers -C
Sweep flow in ECMO refers to:
A. Blood flow
B. Gas flow
C. Circuit pressure
D. Hemodynamic flow - Correct Answers -B
VA ECMO provides:
A. Only ventilatory support
B. Partial cardiopulmonary bypass (cardiac + pulmonary support)
C. Primarily CO₂ removal
D. Right heart bypass only - Correct Answers -B
Pump flow in ECMO depends on:
A. Patient's oxygen content
B. Ventilator FiO₂
C. Patient's preload and afterload
D. Hemoglobin level - Correct Answers -C
Which ECMO type provides only ventilatory support?
A. VA ECMO
B. AV ECMO
C. VV ECMO
D. None - Correct Answers -C
Which ECMO type is primarily for CO₂ removal and requires the patient's own
hemodynamics for flow?
A. VV ECMO
B. VA ECMO
C. AV ECMO
D. None - Correct Answers -C
, What is the bedside test primarily used to monitor anticoagulation in ECMO?
A. INR
B. PT/PTT
C. Activated Clotting Time (ACT)
D. Platelet count - Correct Answers -C
What are the primary goals of ECMO?
A. To bypass the kidneys and liver
B. To support only oxygenation
C. Provide oxygen delivery and remove CO₂ while lungs/heart recover or await
transplant D. To reduce preload and afterload - Correct Answers -C
What are the three general types of ECMO?
A. VA, VV, AV
B. AV, RV, LV
C. Pulmonary, systemic, cardiac
D. Arterial, venous, mixed - Correct Answers -A
In pediatric and adult patients, ECMO is most commonly used for:
A. Renal replacement therapy
B. Cardiac support and as a bridge to lung transplant
C. Neurologic injury prevention
D. Gastrointestinal bleeding - Correct Answers -B
What two components make up total oxygen content in blood?
A. Plasma and platelets
B. Oxygen dissolved in plasma + hemoglobin-bound oxygen
C. RBC mass and PaO₂
D. Preload and afterload - Correct Answers -b
ECMO equipment essentially functions to:
A. Remove nitrogen from blood
B. Pump blood, deliver oxygen, remove CO₂ C. Increase preload
D. Replace hemoglobin - Correct Answers -B
Which type of tubing is best for ECMO circuits?
A. Long tubing to reduce turbulence
B. Shortest possible tubing to reduce resistance and circuit volume
C. Tubing larger than ½ inch
D. Any type—length doesn't matter - Correct Answers -B
Where does drained blood go after leaving the patient?
A. Directly into the lungs
B. Into the circuit via a centrifugal or roller pump
C. To the venous reservoir only
