**8. Conclusion**

VA-ECMO can rapidly stabilize patients and provide organ perfusion to those with refractory cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. Albeit associated with multiple complications that increase with longer duration of support, in the right patient it can improve the survival. Weaning strategies should be implemented as soon as the underlying condition has been corrected and improvement in metabolic, hepatic, pulmonary and renal function has occurred. Use of hemodynamic, echocardiographic and serological markers of recovery should be taken into account prior and during each weaning trial to assess success of weaning or if need of VAD or heart transplantation should be considered.
