Journal article
What Are the Real Issues in Providing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Support: A Survey
Journal of intensive care medicine, Vol.39(10), pp.949-957
10/2024
DOI: 10.1177/08850666241245933
PMID: 38571401
Abstract
By using a novel survey our study aimed to assess the challenges ECMO and Critical Care (CC) teams face when initiating and managing patient's ECMO support.
A qualitative survey-based observational study was performed of members of 2 Critical Care Medicine organizations involved in decision-making around the practice of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). The range of exploratory questions covered ethical principles of informed consent, autonomy and goals of care discussions, beneficence, non-maleficence (offering life-sustaining treatments in end-of-life care), and justice (insurance-related limitations of treatment). Questions also covered pragmatic practice and quality improvement areas, such as exploring whether palliative care or ethics teams were involved in such decision-making.
305 members received the survey links, and a total of 61 completed surveys were received, for an overall response rate of 20% among all eligible members. Only 70% of the participants who manage ECMO patients are involved in the ECMO initiation decision process. The majority do not involve Ethics or Palliative care at the initial ECMO initiation decision step. Of the ethical and moral dilemmas reported, the majority revolved around 1. Prognostication of patients receiving VV and VA ECMO support, 2. Lack of knowledge of patient's wishes and goals, 3. Disconnect between expectations of families and outcomes and 4. Staff moral distress around when to stop ECMO in case of futility.
Our survey highlights areas of distress and dilemma which have been stressed before in the initiation, management, and outcomes of ECMO patients, however with the increasing use of this modality of cardiopulmonary mechanical support being offered, the survey results can offer a guidance using sound ethical principles.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- What Are the Real Issues in Providing Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Support: A Survey
- Creators
- Shahla Siddiqui - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterLovkesh Arora - University of IowaMonica I Lupei - University of MinnesotaS Veena Satyapriya - The Ohio State University Wexner Medical CenterMichael Wall - University of MinnesotaMiguel Cobas - University of MiamiSamuel Justice - Brigham and Women's HospitalRaquel R Bartz - Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of intensive care medicine, Vol.39(10), pp.949-957
- DOI
- 10.1177/08850666241245933
- PMID
- 38571401
- eISSN
- 1525-1489
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 04/04/2024
- Date published
- 10/2024
- Academic Unit
- Anesthesia
- Record Identifier
- 9984580298702771
Metrics
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