RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe acute respiratory failure in adults: NICE guidance JF Heart JO Heart FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society SP 1701 OP 1703 DO 10.1136/heartjnl-2011-300708 VO 97 IS 20 A1 Bastin, Anthony J A1 Firmin, Richard YR 2011 UL http://heart.bmj.com/content/97/20/1701.abstract AB Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a modified form of cardiopulmonary bypass that allows short-term support for potentially reversible severe acute respiratory and/or cardiac failure in critically ill adults and children. There is increasing interest in veno-venous (VV) ECMO for severe acute respiratory failure in adults. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recently updated its interventional procedure guidance, which summarises available data on efficacy and safety of this procedure and provides guidance for clinicians wishing to undertake VV ECMO. The authors summarise and reflect on the guidelines and discuss some recent developments in technology and clinical practice of VV ECMO.