Who runs your ECMO pumps?

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Specializes in NICU.

Hey, all. In the time I've worked in the NICU, I've gotten hopelessly, irredeemably addicted to ECMO. At my hospital Clinical Perfusionists set up and run the pumps and we look after the babies. I know there are hospitals out there that have RNs on pump after it's set up. Anyone work at one? I'm prepared to go to perfusion school if I must, but the prospect of going back to college for yet a third time is a little daunting.

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Specializes in NICU.

An RN or an RRT can run the pump. The RNs that run the pumps have been ECMO trained. Usually an RRT runs it though, but we do have a few RNs that are trained.

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

Some hospitals will train RN's to run the pumps.

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Specializes in NICU.

Let me clarify my initial thought: I'm looking for the names of specific locations. If you don't want to post where you work in the public thread (understandable), feel more than free to send me a PM. The one I know of is Los Angeles Children's, and I've heard that CHOP does as well.

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Specializes in NICU.

LPCH uses nurses after the cannulation.

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Specializes in NICU, peds CICU.

CHOP uses both RRTs and RNs, but the RNs are VERY experienced (mostly in one of the CHOP ICUs). I'd say 5 years experience is the average, many have more. They do VV and VA ECMO, and most can be called to any of the 3 ICUs (N/IC, PICU, CICU), so training is extensive.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

Our ECMO techs are either RTs or RNs who have done extra classes. I'm in cols, ohio

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Specializes in neonatal.

Arkansas Children's Hospital uses RN's and RT's as ECMO pump techs. We are required to have ICU experience and to complete extensive training as we may be required to work in NICU, CVICU, or PICU. I am currently in the middle of training to work on a prn basis in addition to my regular hours in the NICU. Please feel free to PM if you have more questions. FYI we are one of the few hospitals that also does mobile ECMO...not that I'm bragging or anything I love my job!

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Specializes in NICU.
Arkansas Children's Hospital uses RN's and RT's as ECMO pump techs. We are required to have ICU experience and to complete extensive training as we may be required to work in NICU, CVICU, or PICU. I am currently in the middle of training to work on a prn basis in addition to my regular hours in the NICU. Please feel free to PM if you have more questions. FYI we are one of the few hospitals that also does mobile ECMO...not that I'm bragging or anything I love my job!

What is "mobile ECMO"?

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Specializes in neonatal.

"Mobile ECMO" is basically the ability to transport patients while on an ECMO circuit. I don't know the latest data but as of April 2006 Arkansas Children's Hospital was one of only three institutions in the United States to offer air transport of critically ill patients on an ECMO circuit. Here is the link tofor more info on our program. http://www.pediatric-cardiology.com/Heart%20to%20Heart/April/H2H_April.asp#ecmo

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Specializes in NICU.
"Mobile ECMO" is basically the ability to transport patients while on an ECMO circuit. I don't know the latest data but as of April 2006 Arkansas Children’s Hospital was one of only three institutions in the United States to offer air transport of critically ill patients on an ECMO circuit. Here is the link tofor more info on our program. http://www.pediatric-cardiology.com/Heart%20to%20Heart/April/H2H_April.asp#ecmo

Interesting.

What would be the point of transferring a kid on ECMO though?

Sometimes we'll get a transport that comes to us for ECMO, so they cannulate and keep them there on ECMO. What would be the point in transferring to another ECMO center?

Just curious.

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Specializes in neonatal.

For our team there are two purposes to mobile ECMO:

1) If we receive a referring call for a patient who is too unstable for conventional transport it allows our team to go to the referring hospital, cannulate there, then transport the patient on ECMO back to our facility.

2) In addition we serve as a backup suport system to address medical needs that may exceed the resources of outreach institutions. We are able to support I believe up to six patients at a time on ECMO while many facilities close to us can only support one to two at a time.

Thanks for the great question!

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