Journal Review in Thoracic Surgery: VV ECMO in Pre-Lung Transplant Patients - A Bridge to Somewhere

Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast

Education, Science, Health & Fitness, Medicine

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 6 April 2026

⏱️ 17 minutes

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Summary

Join the Johns Hopkins Thoracic Surgery Subspecialty team on this rapid research review revealing how investigative efforts have changed the way we view and use Veno-venous (VV) ECMO therapy in the pre-lung transplant patient population working to avoid ventilator dependence and the associated morbidity while facilitating continued ambulation and preoperative optimization.

Hosts:
- Dr. Alfred J. Casillan, MD, PhD
Attending Thoracic Surgeon
Johns Hopkins Hospital

- Kyla Rakoczy, MD
Johns Hopkins General Surgery Resident

References:
Awake ECMO as Bridge to Lung Transplantation Fuehner T, Kuehn C, Hadem J, Wiesner O, Gottlieb J, Tudorache I, et al. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in awake patients as bridge to lung transplantation. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2012;185(7):763–768. PMID: 22268135 Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22268135/

Predictors of Successful ECMO Bridging Tipograf Y, Salna M, Minko E, Grogan EL, Sonett JR, Bacchetta MD. Outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung transplantation. Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2019;107(5):1456–1463. PMID: 30790550 Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30790550/

Intubation Status and ECMO Bridging Outcomes Zhou AL, Jennings MR, Akbar AF, et al. Utilization and outcomes of nonintubated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung transplant. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2025;44(4):661–669. PMID: 39486773 Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39486773/

ECMO Duration and Waitlist Mortality Shou BL, Kalra A, Zhou AL, et al. Impact of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation bridging duration on lung transplant outcomes. Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2024;118(2):496–503. PMID: 38740080 Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38740080/

Mechanical Ventilation as a Risk Marker Mason DP, Thuita L, Alster JM, Murthy SC, Budev MM, Mehta AC, et al. Lung transplantation in recipients requiring mechanical ventilation: outcomes and risk factors. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2010;139(1):114–119. PMID: 19931096 Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19931096/

***Fellowship Application Link: https://forms.gle/QSUrR2GWHDZ1MmWC6

Transcript

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0:00.0	Behind the Night, The Surgery Podcast, Relevant and Engaging Content to help you dominate the day. We want you want you, yes, you, to join the Behind the Knife team as a surgical education fellow.
0:39.8	We're looking for enterprising surgical residents to take the bull by the horns and build something new and exciting.
0:46.5	Fellows will benefit from ample support from the Behind the Knife team, including the use of our digital education platform,
0:52.7	and access to all of our resources like
0:54.7	illustrators, video editing, AI tools, social media, and more.
0:59.6	Get your name out there and build your CV by being part of the number one
1:03.2	surgery education platform in the world.
1:06.4	We're offering a two-year fellowship starting July 26 and ending in June 2028.
1:12.4	Only residents beginning their two-year academic development time will be considered.
1:16.8	Check out the show notes for more information, including the application link.
1:20.3	All applications are due on April 20th.
1:23.5	Again, all applications are due by April 20th.
1:27.3	Now, get out there and dominate the day.
1:30.6	Hi, everyone.
1:32.2	I'm Kyla Rikosi, current PGY3 at Johns Hopkins, here with your BTK Thoracic Surgery Sub-Specialty Team.
1:42.0	Joining me today is Dr. Alfred Casillian, attending thoracic surgeon here at Johns
1:48.5	Hopkins. Dr. Cicillian focuses on lung failure surgery, including lung transplantation, and has a
1:56.9	special interest in transplant-related research. Al is well known in the surgery department for bringing residents along for every organ recovery he can,
2:07.4	making it a valuable, memorable, educational experience, usually filled with a lot of laughs.
2:13.7	Thank you for being here today.
2:15.9	Thank you, Kyla. It's a pleasure to be here with you today.
2:19.9	I'm looking forward to chatting with you and your audience.
	...

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