Name Research Methodology February 22, 2020 Journal Article Review The research article systematically reviewed pertains to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation bridging, before and after operation, in the patients who undergo pulmonaryendarterectomy 1. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is quite incurable, except for the chronic-thrombolytic variety. One of the treatment modalities is to perform pulmonaryendarterectomy, which is the procedure of choice for patients suffering from the disease. However, one of the risks attached to the procedure is the development of acute decompensated cardiac and respiratory failure before the procedure or after it. Under such circumstances, ECMO (extra-corporeal membrane-oxygenation) has a wellestablished role as a bridging intervention in cases of development of such a failure. The purpose of the research1 was to perform ECMO before endarterectomy to determine its feasibility in stabilizing the patients. The research was quantitative in nature and had a retrospective analytic design. The eligibility criteria for inclusion into the study were explicitly stated and a total of one hundred and sixty-one subjects were included. The researchers used various outcomemeasures including survival, morbidities, improved hemodynamics to make a comparison amongst those who survived, and those who did not after the intervention was undertaken. Additionally, the researchers made use of data analysis techniques to make a comparison amongst the patients based on their survival & risk-factors in case of patients who were intervened, and those who were not. The results of the study demonstrated that in subjects undertaking ECMO bridging before and after their surgery, (pulmonary) endarterectomy had good feasibility, and led to enhanced patient outcomes concerning survival rates. The results demonstrated one risk factor to have statistical significance (p < 0.05) being use of ECMO in subjects with vascular resistance in lungs greater than one thousand dynes cm/s5. The researchers used sound research and statistical procedures to collect, analyze and interpret data related to their proposed research problem, and provided a thorough and sound presentation of their results. The significance of the study is that it provides empirical evidence for an evidence-based practice in relation to a medical practice. The researchers also presented a thorough discussion of their results, including references to the findings of prior research like that by Mydin M, Berman M, Klein A et al. and compared them with the results of their research to arrive at valid conclusions. References 1. Nierlich P, Ristl R. Perioperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation bridging in patients undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy. Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery. 2015;22(2):181-187. 2. Mydin M, Berman M, Klein A et al. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a Bridge to Pulmonary Endarterectomy. Ann Thorac Surg. 2011;92(5):e101-e103. doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2011.05.035 Name: Description: ...