Table 1.
Checklist prior to initiating high-risk ECMOa
| 1. Is long-term survival with adequate neurological and functional recovery conceivable? | |
| 2. Does the institution currently have sufficient resources and expertise? If not, is referral to another centre feasible? | |
| 3. Is the institution ready to offer long-term support after ECMO, e.g. protracted ICU stay, transplantation, home ventilation? | |
| 4. Is the patient’s family fully informed of the risks, do they understand the likely outcome and are they nonetheless supportive? | |
| 5. Is the ECMO leadership within the institution supportive? | |
| If the answer to any of these questions is “no”, then ECMO should be reconsidered. |
ICU intensive care unit
ECMO extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
aECMO which is not actively contraindicated but where survival to hospital discharge is unlikely