EMS World Expo 2018

In early 2017, due to a large demand from outlying hospitals as far away as 300 miles from Nashville, Vanderbilt University Medical Center instituted an ECMO retrieval program. The team consisted of a physician, perfusionist, surgeon and the Lifeflight crew (Flight Nurse, Flight Medic and Pilot). Once at the facility, the physician and surgeon would cannulate the patient and place them on ECMO with the assistance of the perfusionist. With cannulation of patient at the outlying facility, a lengthy transport ( 6 to 8 hours) tied up personal and resources. The focus of my presentation is the transport of the critical care patient by ground and/or air, and more specifically, the transport of an ECMO patient. I will explain some of the complications that can arise for emergency medical personnel in the transport of an ECMO patient and offer practical solutions for overcoming common obstacles in transporting an ECMO patient.