Review

Application of VA-ECMO in high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions under different clinical conditions

  • Deng Yuying ,
  • Huang Xiuxian ,
  • Wang Sheng
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  • Department of Cardiology, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Medical University Hainan Hospital), Haikou 570311, China
First author contact:Deng Yuying was responsible for literature retrieval and manuscript preparation. Huang Xiuxian contributed to literature retrieval and the development of tables in the manuscript. Wang Sheng was responsible for the critical revision of the manuscript. All authors have read the last version of paper and consented to submission.
Deng Yuying, E-mail: kexuanling@163.com.

Received date: 2025-06-30

  Accepted date: 2025-12-19

  Online published: 2026-01-30

Abstract

Although coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains the preferred treatment for most patients with complex coronary artery lesions, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) supported by mechanical circulatory support (MCS) may be a non-inferior or even superior alternative in specific cases, particularly in critically ill patients with hemodynamic instability. Recent real-world evidence has led to a downgrade in guideline recommendations for the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), which has been the most commonly used circulatory assist device in clinical practice. Due to limited availability, the Impella device has not yet been widely adopted in China. In contrast, veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO), owing to its comprehensive and robust cardiopulmonary replacement capabilities, has seen an increase in utilization across China in recent years. This article reviews current evidence on the application of VA-ECMO in high-risk PCI (HR-PCI) under various clinical conditions, aiming to provide valuable references for clinical practice.

Cite this article

Deng Yuying , Huang Xiuxian , Wang Sheng . Application of VA-ECMO in high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions under different clinical conditions[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science), 2026 , 46(1) : 123 -131 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2026.01.015

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