Over the last decade, the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has 
increased significantly. In some centers, ECMO has been deployed to manage 
perioperative emergencies and plays a role in facilitating high-risk thoracic, 
airway, and trauma surgery, which may not be feasible without ECMO support. 
General anesthesiologists who usually manage these cases may not be familiar 
with the initiation and management of patients on ECMO. This review discusses 
the use of ECMO in the operating room for thoracic, airway, and trauma surgery, 
as well as obstetric and perioperative emergencies.