Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

Course Overview
The course is an introduction to ECMO, and the ECMO circuit. In a first instance, it covers the different types of ECMO, the indications and contraindications for each type, gas exchange physiology, and haemodynamic changes.
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  • Written by experts
  • Introductory
  • 100% online
  • Video content
  • Multiple choice quiz
  • Approx. 6 hours to complete
  • Completion certificate
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About this course
ECMO therapy is used when a patient has life-threatening heart or lung failure. It involves pumping the patient’s blood through a membrane that acts as an artificial lung to oxygenate it outside the body.
This course was created by the ECMO team at King's College Hospital and covers the basic ECMO circuit and case studies related to V-V and V-A ECMO.
The course is an introduction to ECMO, and the ECMO circuit. In a first instance, it covers the different types of ECMO, the indications and contraindications for each type, gas exchange physiology, and haemodynamic changes.
It then delves deeper into cannulae and equipment used. Finally, it looks at the care and complications of patients on ECMO by analysing various case studies.
Through this course you will be able to:
  • Differentiate the various types of ECMO
  • Recognize the indications and contraindications for ECMO and the related physiology
  • Identify the components of the ECMO equipment and devicesCare for ECMO patients and handle complications
  • Describe the indications and contraindications for Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps (IABP)
  • know the underlying physiology and plan care
  • Recognize normal and abnormal waveforms and troubleshoot
  • Explain the physiology for invasive haemodynamic monitoring
  • Use pulmonary artery catheters and other equipment
  • Care for patients with pulmonary hypertension, oxygen delivery and consumption.
Kings Critical Care

The King’s College Hospital ECMO service is a team within the Critical Care Service that is responsible for control and management of a patient’s circulation using specialist equipment. This multi-disciplinary service includes medical, nursing and cardiac perfusion staff in Critical Care. It is responsible for setting up and running heart-lung machines to sustain life when conventional intensive care therapies have been exhausted.

Working with the liver transplant service in the liver intensive care unit, the team also undertook the first ever reported emergency liver transplants on veno-venous ECMO in both adults and children. The King’s Health Partners Liver, Renal, Urology, Transplant, Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Surgery Clinical Academic Group has made significant advances combining expertise in basic immunology and transplantation biology.

ECMO Platinum

In March 2019, the KCH ECMO team achieved an international Platinum Level Award for Excellence in Life Support. Awarded by the international registry for extra-corporeal life support (ELSO), an organisation that exists to provide support to institutions delivering extracorporeal (‘outside the body’) life support through continuing education, guidelines development, original research, publications and maintenance of a comprehensive registry of patient data. The award recognises the KCH team’s vital work and the KCH team join 16 other high-profile Platinum status centres from across the world.


Course authors and designers

Elton Gelandt

Senior Charge Nurse | Liver ITU | Kings College Hospital
In 2019, Elton was the recipient of the King's College NHS Foundation Trust Educator of the Year award.

Florin Ivan

Project Manager, Learning Hub | King's Health Partners