ECMO Management: Pitfalls and Possibilities-Leon Eydelman

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a lifesaving technology that continues to grow in popularity and EMS providers may soon find themselves called on to transport these patients if not doing so already. This course will introduce the basics of ECMO physiology and management, as well as pitfalls and potential emergencies in ECMO patient transport. Finally, Dr. Eydelman will explore recent advances in ECMO care that are radically changing the role of EMS.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain the basics of ECMO physiology and function;

2. List potential emergencies and problems that can occur during transport of an ECMO patient with specific steps in correcting them;

3. Discuss the future of ECMO and how the role of EMS in deploying this technology is rapidly changing.

References:

Singer, Ben, et al. “Pre-Hospital Extra-Corporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.” Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine, vol. 26, no. 1, 2018, doi:10.1186/s13049-018-0489-y.