Cannulation in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

We sincerely appreciate the studies performed about mobilization in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients [1]. An increasing number of studies can be seen recently in this very challenging group of patients. Mobilizing an ECMO patient is a complicated task to due to surrounding equipment and the nature of cannulations [2,3]. Regarding postoperative mobilization, the most comfortable side for cannulation is the subclavian artery/femoral vein, as indicated by Abrams and colleagues [1]. There is no significant contraindication to mobilize patients with femoral arterial/venous cannulation but the procedure should be slightly difficult, as Abrams and colleagues stated. The question here is whether we should place the cannulae considering the possibility of postoperative mobilization. Does this possibility really have to affect our choice of cannulation side? ECMO is a life-saving tool although it comes with many different complications, including cannulation-related bleeding, ischemia of ipsilateral extremity, vascular injury