In the first stage of creating the expert consensus statement, topics related to intraoperative ECMO management were proposed by group members. A literature review for each topic was performed using MEDLINE, and articles published after 1980 were included at the discretion of group members. The specific search terms that were queried varied for each topic area.
The present experience indicates that all patients who underwent open heart procedures since 2006 with such heater–cooler unit model should be closely followed up regardless of time of index surgery.