ECMO : In Hospital and Transport

This course walks the student through the basic physiology of the ECMO system.  In addition, it teaches about the most common emergencies and how to intervene with limited resources, especially in transport.  Students that would benefit from this course in any critical care nurse, paramedic, or physician. 

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a term used to describe oxygenation that occurs outside of the body, is an increasingly common means of supporting the most critically ill patients. Because of the invasiveness and high probability of serious complications during ECMO, it is typically indicated only when there is a high likelihood of death with conventional treatment. With continued improvements in technology and increasing clinical experience, transport clinicians are increasingly likely to be called on to care for ECMO patients. 

Highlights include:

• Critical care transport clinicians must appreciate the differences between venovenous and venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as well as common indications for each and the physiology of both configurations

• Traditional monitoring techniques such as peripheral capillary oxygen saturation may not be reliable

• Preparation for emergencies is imperative because decompensation can be rapid and masked until death occurs

• ECMO is a bridge to another option and is not a cure

• Critical Care Providers must know if a patient is a candidate for ECMO support prior to making the decision