ECMO Team Roles & Communication Flashcards

What is the minimum recommended ECMO specialist-to-patient ratio during active ECMO support?

Answer: 1 dedicated specialist per ECMO patient

ELSO guidelines recommend a 1:1 dedicated ECMO specialist-to-patient ratio during active ECMO support to allow immediate response to circuit emergencies.

When should a bedside ECMO nurse escalate to the ECMO specialist without waiting for the physician?

Answer: When an unresolved circuit alarm persists or circuit integrity is compromised

Unresolved circuit alarms or compromised circuit integrity require immediate ECMO specialist response, as delays can be catastrophic.

ECMO simulation training is most valuable for team performance because it:

Answer: Allows teams to practice rare but high-stakes scenarios without patient risk

Simulation allows ECMO teams to rehearse rare emergencies (circuit rupture, air embolism, power failure) safely, building teamwork and response automaticity.

A family meeting for a patient on VA ECMO for refractory cardiogenic shock should address:

Answer: Goals of care, expected timeline, possible outcomes, and decision points if recovery does not occur

Family meetings must address prognosis, goals of care, realistic outcomes, and decision frameworks including withdrawal if the patient does not improve.

When an ECMO patient is transferred to another facility, which document must accompany the patient?

Answer: Complete ECMO circuit log, current parameter settings, and transport medication/anticoagulation plan

A complete ECMO circuit log, current settings documentation, and a transport anticoagulation/medication plan are essential for safe inter-facility ECMO transport.

Which communication failure is most associated with ECMO adverse events according to quality reviews?

Answer: Inadequate handoff of circuit status and recent alarms

Inadequate handoff communication of circuit parameters and unresolved alarms is consistently identified in ECMO adverse event analyses.