Review of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Dialysis-Based Liver Support Devices for the Use of Nephrologists

Acute kidney injury in the intensive care unit (ICU) is a manifestation of an underlying severe illness that commonly involves other organ systems. Pulmonary, cardiac, and hepatic failures are the most prevalent. This article provides a simplified review of the technical aspects of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary and liver support devices used in the adult ICU patient, as well as a summary of the most relevant and up-to-date clinical evidence that supports their use.