Fig. 1

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) configurations. a Typical two-cannula veno-venous (V-V-) ECMO, drainage of blood from femoral vein, and reinfusion via internal jugular vein after oxygenation and decarboxylation. b veno-veno-arterial (V-V-A)-ECMO with additional arterial infusion cannula in the brachiocephalic trunk used in patient 4 to ensure brain oxygenation