UK consensus statement on priorities to support the process of withdrawal of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patients with acute severe respiratory failure receiving veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) have high mortality risk. Management of the process of VV-ECMO withdrawal is challenging, especially in awake patients. Yet there is no guidance to guide clinicians to manage these morally distressing and ethically ambiguous decisions. The study aimed to establish consensus-based priorities for management of the process of VV-ECMO withdrawal to reduce practice variability and improve care quality.

Methods

Our process for generating priority statements for consideration at our consensus meeting included semi-structured interviews and a scoping review. We recruited healthcare professionals with experience in VV-ECMO withdrawal to participate in intervie

SUBMITTER: Lewis R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12597359 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature