Harbor: ED ECMO

• Live 8-25-2025!
  • ECMO-CPR activation criteria, ED attending pre cannulation check list, and ECPR clinical pathway are posted in the rounding room, purple and green doc boxes, in the individual Trauma Bays, and at the Trauma Clerk Desk for quick reference.
  • Quick Reminders:
    • Hours of availability: Monday–Friday, 7 am–7 pm
    • ECPR Activation – Inclusion Criteria (all must be met):
      • Age 15–75 years
      • < 60 minutes since arrest
      • Refractory/recurrent VF/VT (≥2 shocks) or presumed massive PE
      • Continuous high-quality CPR
      • No DNR
      • No terminal illness
      • No severe baseline neurologic dysfunction
    • Activation process:
      • Call the trauma attending at x66882 to confirm ECMO capacity
      • If we have capacity for ECPR, have the trauma clerk activate the ECPR batch patch.
      • If ECMO team is activated, the attending ECLS Pre-cannulation checklist forms are available throughout the department to guide cannulation candidacy with the ECMO team on their arrival.
      • The Nursing ECPR documentation form is found at the Trauma Clerk Desk in the ECMO folder and to be filled out in all ECPR activations
        • Completed ECPR nursing forms should be returned to the ECMO folder at the trauma clerk desk.
      • After the resuscitation, ED physicians complete the ED ECPR/ECMO PowerForm (PowerForms → ED Procedures → ECPR) for all activations, even if the patient is not cannulated.
    • Other Notes:
      • As a reminder this process is only for patients that are already in our ED and does not apply to prehospital setting. Any EMS Radio calls about ECPR should be directed to designated EMS ECPR Receiving centers as part of standard radio room procedures.
      • Avoid crash femoral lines in potential ECMO candidates; use IO access if IV access is difficult.
      • Copies of all forms and processes can be found in the ECMO folder at the clerk desk