SCCM Resource Library-Ethics in ECMO: Difficult Cases and Consideration

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Kara Egerstrand discusses the ethical challenges that arise when caring for patients on ECMO, a form of life support therapy. She highlights the dilemma when ECMO becomes a "bridge to nowhere," where the patient is reliant on the device with no path to recovery or transplantation. Egerstrand presents a case of a patient who was initially intended to be a bridge to transplant but became ineligible due to complications and irreversible lung disease. She discusses the difficulty in determining the right timing for end-of-life discussions and involving palliative care. The video also explores the ethical considerations of using ECMO as extracorporeal CPR and organ preservation for transplantation. Finally, Egerstrand addresses the issue of health equity and access to ECMO, emphasizing the importance of predetermined criteria for candidate selection and resource allocation. In summary, the video highlights the need for thoughtful and open communication with patients and families in navigating these complex ethical dilemmas in ECMO care.

Asset Subtitle

Ethics End of Life, Procedures, 2022

Asset Caption

This session will combine the most popular learning methods for extracorporeal support, combining didactic information on the most up-to-date research and clinical outcomes, case-based presentations that will be used to incorporate the didactic portion.

Meta Tag

Content Type Presentation

Knowledge Area Ethics End of Life

Knowledge Area Procedures

Knowledge Level Advanced

Learning Pathway Cardiothoracic Critical Care

Membership Level Select

Tag Medical Legal Issues

Tag Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ECMO

Tag Cardiothoracic Critical Care

Year 2022

Keywords

ECMO

bridge to nowhere

end-of-life discussions

palliative care

health equity

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