Education and training for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has proved itself as an important part of the armamentarium of modern critical care. With its growth, the increasing demand for ECMO education has made it essential in institutional and program plans. ECMO education is a continuous process that requires developing and maintaining proficiency with aspects of circuit function, cardiopulmonary physiology, and psychomotor skills which are paramount in caring for patients on ECMO. The education of ECMO practitioners also needs to ensure that they can navigate through the difficult ethical questions and concerns created by using extracorporeal life support. Simulation is one of the most effective tools for training on ECMO and has been shown to improve in trainees’ knowledge as well as their procedural skills and critical thinking.