Literature Search Method
A comprehensive literature search is done through all the available electronic database to identity articles that discussed the use of extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation and mechanical circulatory support following cardiac surgery. The key words used were ‘mechanical circulatory’ ‘extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation’ ‘ECMO ‘Cardiac surgery’ ‘VA-ECMO OR VV-ECMO’ ‘Cardiogenic shock’ ‘Intra-aortic balloon pump’ ‘circulatory support’ ‘mechanical support’. Those key words were used in the form of combined search terms to maximize the search outputs. The inclusion criteria were articles that discussed the indications, outcomes and survival benefit from using mechanical circulatory support in the form of VV-ECMO or VA-ECMO, limits were placed on English language papers only. A summary table for each relevant section is provided, where applicable.