Pediatric Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ELSO Guidelines.

ELSO Interim Guidelines for Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Adult Cardiac Patients.

Conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (chest compression and rescue breathing) has been recommended for pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) because of the asphyxial nature of the majority of pediatric cardiac arrest events. However, the clinical effectiveness of additional rescue breathing (conventional CPR) compared with compression-only CPR in children is uncertain. This nationwide population-based study of pediatric OHCA patients was based on data from the All-Japan Utstein Registry. We included all pediatric patients who experienced OHCA in Japan from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2012. The primary outcome was a favorable neurological state 1 month after OHCA defined as a Glasgow-Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Category score of 1 to 2 (corresponding to a Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category score of 1-3). Outcomes were compared with logistic regression with uni- and multivariable modeling in the overall cohort and for a propensity-matched subset of patients. A total of 2157 patients were included; 417 received conventional CPR, 733 received compression-only CPR, and 1007 did not receive any bystander CPR. Among these patients, 213 (9.9%) survived with a favorable neurological status 1 month after OHCA, including 108/417 (25.9%) for conventional, 68/733 (9.3%) for compression-only, and 37/1007 (3.7%) for no-bystander CPR. In unadjusted analyses, conventional CPR was superior to compression-only CPR in neurologically favorable survival (odds ratio [OR] 3.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.45-4.76; P<0.0001), with a trend favoring conventional CPR that was no longer statistically significant after multivariable adjustment (ORadjusted 1.52, 95% CI 0.93-2.49), and with further attenuation of the difference in a propensity-matched subset (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.81-1.77). Both conventional and compression-only CPR were associated with higher odds for neurologically favorable survival compared with no-bystander CPR (ORadjusted 5.01, 95% CI 2.98-8.57, and ORadjusted 3.29, 95% CI 1.93-5.71), respectively. In this population-based study of pediatric OHCA in Japan, both conventional and compression-only CPR were associated with superior outcomes compared with no-bystander CPR. Unadjusted outcomes with conventional CPR were superior to compression-only CPR, with the magnitude of difference attenuated and no longer statistically significant after statistical adjustments. These findings support randomized clinical trials comparing conventional versus compression-only CPR in children, with conventional CPR preferred until such controlled comparative data are available, and either method preferred over no-bystander CPR.

Hybrid and parallel extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuits

Previous animal and clinical studies suggest that bystander-initiated cardiac-only resuscitation may be superior to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Our hypothesis was that both cardiac-only bystander resuscitation and conventional bystander CPR would improve outcomes from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of < or = 15 minutes' duration, whereas the addition of rescue breathing would improve outcomes for cardiac arrests lasting > 15 minutes. We carried out a prospective, population-based, observational study involving consecutive patients with emergency responder resuscitation attempts from May 1, 1998, through April 30, 2003. The primary outcome measure was 1-year survival with favorable neurological outcome. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between type of CPR and outcomes. Among the 4902 witnessed cardiac arrests, 783 received conventional CPR, and 544 received cardiac-only resuscitation. Excluding very-long-duration cardiac arrests (> 15 minutes), the cardiac-only resuscitation yielded a higher rate of 1-year survival with favorable neurological outcome than no bystander CPR (4.3% versus 2.5%; odds ratio, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.01 to 2.95), and conventional CPR showed similar effectiveness (4.1%; odds ratio, 1.57; 95% CI, 0.95 to 2.60). For the very-long-duration arrests, neurologically favorable 1-year survival was greater in the conventional CPR group, but there were few survivors regardless of the type of bystander CPR (0.3% [2 of 624], 0% [0 of 92], and 2.2% [3 of 139] in the no bystander CPR, cardiac-only CPR, and conventional CPR groups, respectively; P<0.05). Bystander-initiated cardiac-only resuscitation and conventional CPR are similarly effective for most adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. For very prolonged cardiac arrests, the addition of rescue breathing may be of some help.

Critically ill patients with cardiac and/or respiratory failure may require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to restore physiological function. The use of ECMO in intensive care units (ICUs) in the United States has increased over the past decade, most recently with the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, an estimated 33 000 patients received ECMO support, with survival rates of 59% (pulmonary) and 43% (cardiac).1 Approaches for ECMO support are either venoarterial or venovenous cannulation aimed at restoring the patient’s cardiopulmonary or pulmonary function. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is indicated for severe cardiogenic shock, ventricular arrhythmias, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and acute respiratory distress syndrome refractory to conventional therapies.2 Its management requires trained and experienced critical care providers (eg, nurses) as well as institutional infrastructure with robust leadership to ensure safety and quality patient care.2,3 The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) recommends that ECMO training should consist of didactic courses, hands-on experience, and continuing education.3 To that end, this column begins with the description of the role of the bedside registered nurse (RN) in ECMO management in the cardiothoracic ICU followed by the acute care nurse practitioner’s (ACNP) leadership in ECMO training tailored to the bedside RN’s educational needs.The management of patients receiving ECMO support is usually orchestrated by critical care multidisciplinary teams. In recent years, bedside RNs in ICUs have increasing responsibility in the technical aspects of ECMO care (ie, management of the ECMO system) (see Figure 1) traditionally performed by cardiovascular perfusionists. The increasing use of ECMO, technological refinements, and ELSO guidelines collectively influence the recent trends of ECMO management by bedside RNs. Unfortunately, there are no data about bedside RNs’ training and outcomes in ECMO care. However, there is consensus in the literature that adherence to ELSO guidelines is essential to quality patient care and outcomes. Notably, nurses at facilities with high or increasing ECMO cases can acquire a wide range of ECMO management skill sets including the associated nursing care.3Bedside RNs must be competent in managing patients receiving ECMO support and are expected to promptly intervene when problems arise, such as adjusting pump speed and flows to prevent complications and/or reduce mortality, as well as manage anticoagulation levels and trend hemodynamics. Thus, bedside RNs require training and continuing education tailored to their competency development, maintenance, and eventually, mastery.4 Nursing management competency for patients supported with ECMO is typically acquired through didactic and hands-on training. Didactic content includes ECMO physiology, procedures, emergencies, and anticoagulation management in patients receiving ECMO support. Although hands-on training varies among institutions, there is consensus that bedside RNs should and could manage ECMO including its circuit (see Figure 1) to meet the immediate needs of these highly acute and complex patient populations.Because of the emerging role of bedside RNs being directly responsible for managing ECMO circuits, there is a need for implementing education and training programs beyond the conventional didactic course (eg, simulation) for ICU RNs that is tailored for optimizing their knowledge, skill, and overall competence with ECMO patient management.As an example, a medical center in the western suburbs of Chicago identified a need to develop and implement an ECMO training program that facilitates the optimization of the ICU bedside RN knowledge and skills (competence) with ECMO. The medical center set this organizational priority because of insufficient ECMO training, needing 24-hour ECMO coverage at the bedside, and ensuring that bedside RNs deliver safe and quality patient care. On the basis of increasing evidence supporting high-fidelity simulation as an effective strategy for training health care providers in the management of ECMO, its circuit, and complications, the medical center selected simulation as the training methodology.4 Providing current evidence-based training to ECMO specialists can improve patient safety and the quality of care by improving communication and teamwork and optimizing confidence among ICU nurses.5 Simulation training provides bedside RNs the opportunity to apply theory into practice, make mistakes, and improve ECMO management skills in a risk-free learning environment. Simulation-based ECMO courses have demonstrated an improvement in cognitive, technical, and behavioral skills by providing active learning experiences.6 Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation simulation training can replicate the ICU room setting and emergent situations (eg, cardiac arrest), allows troubleshooting ECMO circuits in a controlled setting, and provides the ability to debrief. Debriefing allows the ICU team to process and evaluate how they respond in each scenario. In ECMO simulation, ACNPs can share their clinical expertise and experiences and lead the team as well as help the RN/team process, reflect, understand, and modify how they manage patients including responding to ECMO emergencies. It is worth mentioning that doctoral-prepared ACNPs (ie, doctor of nursing practice) are suited for taking on leadership roles in designing ECMO simulation training because of their advanced clinical practice and leadership education and training in critical care.In a rapidly changing health care system, ICU ACNPs can make significant contributions in improving patient care quality outcomes through leading clinical nursing education initiatives.Such training took place in the western suburbs of Chicago at a quaternary care facility designated as a level 1 trauma center with over 500 beds. The CTICU was comprised of about 15 beds and over 50 nurses. Half of the nursing staff was certified in a variety of specialties (eg, CCRN, CSC, CMC). Years of nursing experience ranged from 35 years at the bedside to new graduate nurses.The unit lacked formalized ECMO training and skill competencies for its bedside nurses. The previous training was ever-changing. It consisted of direct observations of senior nursing care to ECMO patients lasting a total of 4 hours. The former training did not meet standards set by ELSO. For instance, ELSO recommends that ECMO centers, certified or not, should have a well-defined program for staff training.2 The program should include didactic lectures, laboratory training, bedside training, and a defined system for testing staff proficiency.2 Bedside RNs must be properly trained to think critically in emergent situations and to adequately and promptly troubleshoot complications.An ECMO training program developed with the support of the ACNP was designed to meet ELSO guidelines. As an initial strategy to systematize formal ECMO training, a survey was conducted to gain insight into the current ECMO training from bedside RNs. Ninety percent of the nurses that participated in the survey were not content with the current training. The survey results indicated that a more robust, innovative training tailored to the needs of the nursing staff caring for patients on ECMO would be beneficial. An ECMO simulation training for ECMO specialists was developed that took into account the lack of ECMO training and education on the unit, as well as the increasing acuity of patients in the CTICU; the training developers also compared the current training to ELSO guidelines. The purpose of this training was to improve the self-efficacy and knowledge of the nursing staff in the CTICU through the implementation of standardized ECMO education and simulation training that met ELSO standards.The proposed training was drafted in collaboration with the chief perfusionist. The CTICU followed an RN-perfusion model of ECMO management. The goal was to train CTICU RNs as ECMO specialists to be able to manage the ECMO circuit as well as the patient’s hemodynamics. The didactic consisted of ECMO physiology, patient care management, and troubleshooting venoarterial and venovenous mechanical components of the ECMO system (see Figure 2). The wet lab was a review of the ECMO circuit and priming. Each nurse was expected to correctly prime the circuit and was checked off individually as correctly completing the task. In the simulation training, nurses were divided into groups and participated in 6 scenarios including a mock code with ECMO cannulation (See Table 1).Following synthesis and evaluation of evidence-based literature, the ACNP presented the simulation training proposal to nursing administration but was met with resistance. The lack of leadership knowledge regarding the complexity of patients requiring ECMO was the main reason for resistance. The CTICU was the only unit capable of caring for patients receiving ECMO support, and the unit lacked a nurse educator; nursing management lacked an ICU background, so there was little understanding among leadership of what was required to care for these patients safely and effectively. Time and cost were also important factors in obtaining approval for implementing the training. Nursing leadership’s concern was with the cost of using the simulation laboratory, scheduling the nursing staff for the training, and compensating the chief perfusionist and ACNP. The chief perfusionist, ACNP, and the RNs who participated in the training volunteered their time without compensation for the training. The simulation laboratory was free of cost to the hospital as this was presented as a pilot study that was part of a DNP project. The costs of miscellaneous educational resources for the nursing staff were covered by the ACNP.The proposal was rejected by nursing administration for being infeasible. The proposal was then presented to members of the hospital executive team. Several meetings were organized with the unit medical director, a cardiac surgeon who served as director of the ECMO program, the president of the hospital, and the vice president of patient safety. The proposal was presented as an opportunity to improve the safety and quality of care provided to patients receiving ECMO therapy. After approval was obtained, the ACNP in collaboration with the chief perfusionist formed an ECMO specialist group and submitted approval to the institutional review board. The ACNP was responsible for developing assessment tools to evaluate knowledge and self-efficacy of the nursing staff.The second phase evaluated nurses’ perceived ability to troubleshoot ECMO before the didactic lectures and required nurses to take an anonymous exam consisting of 20 multiple-choice questions on ECMO physiology and a 10-item Likert scale self-efficacy survey. The goal of the simulation training was to empower nurses by giving them the tools necessary to increase their knowledge base on ECMO and improve their perceived ability to care for these patients.The 2-hour didactic lectures were developed based on ELSO recommendations. The didactic focused on introducing ECMO and advanced ECMO troubleshooting, focusing on ECMO physiology, procedures, emergencies, and anticoagulation management in patients receiving ECMO support.Twenty nurses completed a 1-hour wet lab reviewing the ECMO circuitry, alarm troubleshooting, and priming of the circuit (see Figure 1). The 2-hour simulation training was held at the simulation laboratory at the Midwest academic medical center. The simulated room was set up to resemble an ICU room. Six scenarios of issues commonly encountered in patients receiving ECMO therapy were developed as a part of the simulation training. Twenty nurses completed the 6 scenarios proctored by the ACNP and chief perfusionist. Nurses were able to debrief, allowing them to understand the actions taken and the implications of those actions. After completing the simulation training, each nurse retook the same deidentified ECMO knowledge exam and self-efficacy survey.Twenty nurses (100%) completed the training and surveys; knowledge and self-efficacy both showed significant improvement. Pretraining scores on the knowledge exam averaged 70%. Posttraining knowledge exam scores averaged 85%. Posttraining self-efficacy scores improved on each item of the survey. Refer to Table 2 for changes in confidence before and after training.After implementation of the training, a schedule was created with 2 ECMO specialists scheduled on each shift. Patients receiving ECMO support were preassigned to ECMO specialists for 5 months. During those 5 months, it was noted that there was a significant decrease in the number of pages to perfusionists. Nurses were better able to troubleshoot and prevent detrimental events. An ECMO committee was developed comprised of the ICU medical director, unit manager, chief perfusionist, ACNPs, pharmacist, and cardiac surgeons. The committee met monthly for 5 months. The ICU multidisciplinary team collaboratively developed an ECMO policy, created an order set for ECMO patients, revised an anticoagulation policy, and designated an ECMO cart fully equipped for emergent cannulation be stationed on the unit. Electronic health record documentation of ECMO was also updated to reflect the data provided by the Cardiohelp Console, which includes change in pressure, arterial and venous pressures, hemoglobin levels, hematocrit levels, mixed venous oxygen saturation, and activated clotting time results.Another important change in the unit was in how patients receiving ECMO support were signed out to the oncoming shift. An ECMO circuit check was now mandated at every change of shift. This check included the nurse review settings and cannulation sites, along with hemodynamic trends and the most recent postoxygenator gas levels. One of the most important changes because of this training was the approval for an ECMO coordinator position. This would assure nursing staff would receive formal ECMO training to maintain competencies.The level of stress endured during emergencies influences clinical performance. To ensure safe, high-quality ECMO management during emergencies, bedside RNs need technical, behavioral, and independent decision-making skills. This is essential for outstanding teamwork and improved patient outcomes.7 This simulation training enhanced nurses’ ability to identify and initiate an intervention promptly. There was an improvement in scores of the knowledge exam after training. Nurse self-efficacy was improved as evidenced by the improved percentages in the posttraining self-efficacy survey. These results indicate that nurses improved their self-efficacy and knowledge. Of note, in the simulation laboratory, regardless of years of experience, nurses had difficulty with more complex scenarios, further supporting the need for training and competencies.After training, nurses recognized acute events and intervened before these events could cause harm to patients. An example of the impact of this training was when nurses who participated in the training were able to promptly identify recirculation occurring in a patient receiving venovenous ECMO support. The nurses recalled this ECMO complication from a scenario practiced in the simulation laboratory. They were able to visualize this in a controlled setting and were able to apply what they learned to the bedside. A limitation of this education/training was that the nurses who participated in this training were highly specialized ICU nurses. The outcome of this training might be different in a group of less specialized nurses.This simulation training demonstrated the importance of using ACNPs to increase patient access to care in a critical care setting and to set the standards for care.8 Acute care nurse practitioners are instrumental resources because of their direct patient care skills.8 Both RNs and physicians consider education, research, collaboration, and leadership vital roles of the ACNP that are indispensable in any critical care unit.8 An ACNP with ECMO experience is vital to a CTICU because they can play a role in decreasing hospital lengths of stay and mortality, improving patient care, and promoting continuity of care. Acute care nurse practitioners are a strong liaison between bedside nurses and the ICU multidisciplinary team.This column outlines the essential role of the ACNP in ECMO in a CTICU. The goal of this training was to implement an ECMO simulation training led by an ACNP. Fundamental to this training was that it would improve the knowledge and self-efficacy of bedside RNs. Acute care nurse practitioner– led educational initiatives enhance structural empowerment through leadership and improved communication, which positively influences staff morale. Empowering bedside RNs through education increases staff retention and improves the quality and safety of patient care. The health care system in the United States is dynamic. As nursing leaders, ACNPs are essential resources that can empower bedside RNs to provide safe and quality nursing care to our most complex patients.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation with assisted extracorporeal life-support versus conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults with in-hospital cardiac arrest: an observational study and propensity analysis

Severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cannot be adequately managed with mechanical ventilation alone. The role and outcome of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the management of COVID-19 is currently unclear. Eight COVID-19 patients have received ECMO support in Shanghai with seven with venovenous (VV) ECMO support and one veno arterial (VA) ECMO during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. As of March 25, 2020, four patients died (50% mortality), three patients (37.5%) were successfully weaned off ECMO after 22, 40, and 47 days support, respectively, but remain on mechanical ventilation. One patient is still on VV ECMO with mechanical ventilation. The partial pressure of oxygen/fractional of inspired oxygen ratio before ECMO initiation was between 54 and 76, and all were well below 100. The duration of mechanical ventilation before ECMO ranged from 4 to 21 days. Except the one emergent VA ECMO during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, other patients were on ECMO support for between 18 and 47 days. In conclusion, ensuring effective, timely, and safe ECMO support in COVID-19 is key to improving clinical outcomes. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support might be an integral part of the critical care provided for COVID-19 patients in centers with advanced ECMO expertise.

The American Society of Extracorporeal Technology Board of Directors, consistent with the American Society of Extracorporeal Technology's safe patient care improvement mission, charged the International Board of Blood Management to write a knowledge and skill certification examination for healthcare personnel employed as adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) specialists. Nineteen nationally recognized ECMO subject-matter experts were selected to complete the examination development. A job analysis was performed, yielding a job description and examination plan focused on 16 job categories. Multiple-choice test items were created and validated. Qualified ECMO specialists were identified to complete a pilot examination and both pre- and post-examination surveys. The examination item difficulty and candidate performance were ranked and matched using Rasch methodology. Candidates' examination scores were compared with their profession, training, and experience as ECMO specialists. The 120-item pilot examination form ranked 76 ECMO specialist candidates consistent with their licensure, ECMO training, and clinical experience. Forty-three registered nurses, 28 registered respiratory therapists, four certified clinical perfusionists, and one physician assistant completed the pilot examination process. Rasch statistics revealed examination reliability coefficients of .83 for candidates and .88 for test items. Candidates ranked the appropriateness for examination items consistent with the item content, difficulty, and their personal examination score. The pilot examination pass rate was 80%. The completed examination product scheduled for enrollment in March 2020 includes 100 verified test items with an expected pass rate of 84% at a cut score of 67%. The online certification examination based on a verified job analysis provides an extramural assessment that ranks minimally prepared ECMO specialists' knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) consistent with safe ECMO patient care and circuit management. It is anticipated that ECMO facilities and ECMO service providers will incorporate the certification examination as part of their process improvement, safety, and quality assurance plans.

Clinical practice of emergency department-initiated extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for cardiac arrest in adults.

Resistance to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation in witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with shockable initial cardiac rhythm

Background: Conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a barrier to bystanders including parents doing CPR for children. Particularly mouth-to-mouth ventilation has been considered to be difficult to teach and perform. Several clinical studies have shown the efficacy of bystander CPR by chest compression only (CC-only) for adults, but not yet stated enough for children. Methods: In a nationwide out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) registration from 2005 to 2010, we enrolled 11,417 children aged less than 18 years old. Data collected include age, etiology, ECG wave form, type of CPR, and neurological outcome. Favorable outcome was defined as cerebral performance category 1 or 2. Results: 3,486 (31%) children with OHCA were described as cardiac etiology, and 7,931 (69%) as non-cardiac. VF/pulseless VT (VF/pVT) in 546 (5%) cases, PEA in 1,668 (15%), and asystole in 8,168 (71%). 3,041 (27%) cases received conventional CPR, 2,421 (21%) received CC-only CPR, and 5,507 (48%) were given no CPR. Within 2,808 (25%) children with witnessed citizen bystanders, 706 (25% of 2,808) received conventional CPR and 577 (21% of 2,808) received CC-only CPR, but outcome was not available in 69 cases. Any CPR comparing with no CPR (8.5% [463/5,462] vs 3.1% [168/5,507]; OR 2.78, 2.32-3.32), or conventional CPR comparing with CC-only (11% [329/3,041] vs 5.5% [134/2,421]; OR 1.95, 1.59-2.40) showed higher favorable outcomes. However, analysis in children with witnessed citizen bystanders revealed no difference on favorable outcome between conventional CPR and CC-only CPR (9.0% [60/668] vs 7.5% [41/546]; OR 1.22, 0.80-1.83). In each waveform group (VF/pVT; 32% [38/118] vs 29% [25/86]; OR 1.11, 0.62-1.97, PEA 7.1% [11/156] vs 6.3% [9/142]; OR 1.11, 0.45-2.76, Asystole 3.1% [11/353] vs 2.2% [7/318]; OR 1.42, 0.54-3.69), even excluding infants (11% [56/514] vs 8.0% [35/438]; OR 1.36, 0.88-2.11), indicated same trends. Conclusion: CC-only CPR by witnessed citizen is equally effective for children who have witnessed OHCA, comparing with conventional CPR. Enhancement of citizen bystander CPR including children with uniform BLS algorithm is reasonable, and need to be enriched further to diminish paediatric OHCA events without bystander CPR.

Patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) often require continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). The intra-circuit pressure of adult ECMO usually deviates from the physiological range. We investigated the use of CRRT connected to an ECMO circuit with physiological intra-circuit pressures (0-150mmHg, defined as the "safety range") using an in vitro experiment involving a water-filled ECMO circuit. The intra-circuit pressure pre-pump, post-pump, and post-oxygenator were measured while varying the height of the pump or ECMO flow. The bypass conduit pressure and distance from the post-oxygenator port were measured to find the "safety point", where the bypass pressure remained within the safety range. Both drainage and return limbs of the CRRT machine were connected to the safety point and the inlet and outlet pressures of the hemofilter were recorded while varying the ECMO and CRRT flow. The pre-pump pressure only remained within the safety range for heights >75cm (ECMO flow = 4L/min) or ECMO flow <3.5Lmin (height = 50cm). The post-pump and post-oxygenator pressure was generally outside of the safety range. The bypass pressure decreased according to the distance from the post-oxygenator port and the safety point was found at 60 or 75cm (in a 90-cm length conduit) regardless of ECMO flow. The hemofilter inlet and outlet pressures remained within the safety range for all conditions of ECMO and CRRT flow, findings validated in clinical cases. The bypass conduit within an ECMO circuit can be connected to a CRRT machine safely under physiological pressures in adult patients receiving ECMO.

Anesthesia Literature Review

The American Society of Extracorporeal Technology Board of Directors, consistent with the American Society of Extracorporeal Technology’s safe patient care improvement mission, charged the International Board of Blood Management to write a knowledge and skill certification examination for healthcare personnel employed as adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) specialists. Nineteen nationally recognized ECMO subject-matter experts were selected to complete the examination development. A job analysis was performed, yielding a job description and examination plan focused on 16 job categories. Multiple-choice test items were created and validated. Qualified ECMO specialists were identified to complete a pilot examination and both pre- and post-examination surveys. The examination item difficulty and candidate performance were ranked and matched using Rasch methodology. Candidates’ examination scores were compared with their profession, training, and experience as ECMO specialists. The 120-item pilot examination form ranked 76 ECMO specialist candidates consistent with their licensure, ECMO training, and clinical experience. Forty-three registered nurses, 28 registered respiratory therapists, four certified clinical perfusionists, and one physician assistant completed the pilot examination process. Rasch statistics revealed examination reliability coefficients of .83 for candidates and .88 for test items. Candidates ranked the appropriateness for examination items consistent with the item content, difficulty, and their personal examination score. The pilot examination pass rate was 80%. The completed examination product scheduled for enrollment in March 2020 includes 100 verified test items with an expected pass rate of 84% at a cut score of 67%. The online certification examination based on a verified job analysis provides an extramural assessment that ranks minimally prepared ECMO specialists’ knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) consistent with safe ECMO patient care and circuit management. It is anticipated that ECMO facilities and ECMO service providers will incorporate the certification examination as part of their process improvement, safety, and quality assurance plans.

Successful resuscitation from prolonged ventricular fibrillation using a portable percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system.