Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Nursing Care

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly being used with adult patients in respiratory failure or cardiac failure. ECMO is a complex treatment that requires diligent nursing care with the knowledge and ability to identify complications of ECMO can potentially reduce morbidity and mortality in these high-risk patients. Nurses are integral to the multidisciplinary team caring for patients in the intensive care unit and are fundamental to successful outcomes. The increased complexity of caring for the patient supported by ECMO adds to the challenge for the nursing team. The bedside intensive care nurse is supported by ECMO specialist nurses in the delivery of care and monitoring of the ECMO patient. This cardiopulmonary support system uses an artificial membrane lung to move blood forward and replace carbon dioxide with oxygen in venous blood.