Managing patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support during the COVID-19 pandemic – a proposal for a nursing standard operating procedure

Abstract

Background

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is effective in a selected critically ill patient population with promising results in refractory hypoxemia related to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, it requires specialized clinicians and resources in advanced technology. Moreover, the COVID-19 remains an ongoing global emergency, and there is no evidence-based practice in preparedness. This article proposes an innovative and optimized nursing care protocol, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), that regulates safety and efficiency in using personal protective equipment (PPE) during ECMO-relevant procedures while providing ECMO therapy for patients with COVID-19.

Methods

After performing a narrative literature search, we developed a high-fidelity translational simulation scenario. It included practicing appropriate donning and doffing PPE during work organization, ECMO-related procedures, and routine daily nursing care and management of ECMO over nine hours. In addition, we held supplementary constructive debrief meetings to consult international expert in the field.

Results

A proposal for nursing standardized operating procedures was created, divided into categories. They included work organization, workload references, competences, infrastructural conditions, cannulation equipment, daily routine nursing care, and procedures during ECMO.

Conclusions

High-fidelity medical simulation can play an important role in staff training, improvement in previously gained proficiency, and development of optimal SOP for nursing care and management during ECMO in patients with COVID-19. Optimal SOPs may further guide multidisciplinary teams, including intensive care units and interventional departments.

Background

A few publications focus on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and nursing [1,2,3], with formal guidelines provided by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) [4]. General standards on the provision of ECMO during the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are also provided [5]. The dynamic evolution of the pandemic enabled growth for innovations to optimizations of procedures [6,7,8,9,10,11,12]. However, no guidelines are specific to nursing care and clinical management of ECMO and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during a disaster state such as the current pandemic, leaving ECMO centres to develop their institutional procedures.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can help a selected critically ill patient population [13] in modern critical care. However, its implementation in pandemic conditions is only possible with appropriate human and non-human technological resources [14, 15]. Due to its invasiveness, ECMO is a high-risk application with potential sudden and severe complications such as air entrapment in the ECMO circuit, and dislodgement of cannulae [5, 16]. Accordingly, the constant presence of at least two ECMO-trained clinicians is necessary for emergent life-saving interventions.

From December 2019 to March 2020, COVID-19 evolved from a cluster of pneumonia cases in China into the first coronavirus-caused pandemic [17], surpassing 30.5 million cases and 950,000 deaths in nine months and remaining uncontrolled [18]. It has been accepted that the COVID-19 virus transmits human-to-human through respiratory droplets by coughing, sneezing, and aerosols [11]. The disease is highly contagious, with a relatively long incubation period, an asymptomatic state, and viral shedding post-recovery. The lack of effective antiviral treatment and vaccine in the first month after pandemic outbreak left prevention and supportive therapies the only potentially helpful strategies available at the time. Although estimates are that only 3–5% of all cases progress into critical illness [19], it is significant given the very high numerator. Invasive mechanical ventilation is necessary for a substantial number of COVID 19-cases in both hospitalized and critically ill (2.3–33.1% and 29.1–89.9%, respectively) [12]. The World Health Organization (WHO) provisionally recommended ECMO for cases with refractory hypoxemia unresponsive to lung-protective ventilation, emphasizing access to expertise in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [20].

To apply ECMO in critically ill patients with COVID-19, a careful analysis of the balance between the potential benefits of ECMO and the available ECMO-trained human resources, staff safety, epidemiological restrictions, and hospital equipment and infrastructure is necessary [14, 15, 21]. Currently, there are 2571 applications of ECMO in COVID-19 reported into the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry [22].

A translational simulation recently described that integrates innovation, knowledge, skills, and interpersonal collaboration and has proven to be helpful in the introduction of challenging and complex procedures [23,24,25]. Its value expands to coronavirus pandemic conditions. It involved a collaborative effort in improving system outcomes through identifying potential obstacles and performance issues and implementing the appropriate intervention, irrespective of the location, modality, or circumstances. By functional alignment and quality improvement in dedicated institutions, it encompasses educational interventions targeting practice and outcomes.

Aim

The purpose of this paper was to develop a proposal for a nursing Standard Operating Procedure applicable to ECMO patients with COVID-19 and generalizable to similar conditions (epidemic, pandemic, disaster, etc.) and all medical professionals involved in extracorporeal life support therapy.

Area of implementation

This proposal can help standardize practice for medical and nursing clinicians caring for patients with COVID-19 on ECMO.

Methods

Narrative literature research

Three investigators (MP, KB, MD) performed a literature search of original papers published by June 2020. Two search engines, PubMed and Google Scholar were used, with the following MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) and Booleans keyword’s: ((“Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation”[MeSH] OR “ECMO”[MeSH]) AND (“COVID”[MeSH] OR “coronavirus”[MeSH])) AND “nursing”[MeSH Terms].

Translational simulation

On a single day, over 12 h, of which three were used for preparation and nine to run the scenarios, the authors carried out the simulation practice in an isolated ICU room in the Centre of Medical Simulation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences.

The simulation was designed and ran by two trainers, two experienced intensive care nurses, one perfusionist, and two physicians (an intensivist and a cardiac surgeon). They all had prior training and experience in ECMO and over ten years of experience in simulation-based education.

The simulation was carried out using a high-fidelity Laerdal 3G SimMan (Laerdal Medical, Orpington, UK) with an incorporated artificial vessel loop in an isolation room in a high-fidelity simulated intensive care unit (ICU) (Fig. 1). Additional equipment used included an invasive mechanical ventilator and a vital sign monitor, infusion pumps, and an ECMO device (Cardiohelp) with a complete ECMO setup of introducers, cannulae, and an HLS Set Advanced set (Maquet, Getinge, Rastatt, Germany). Participants communicated using a radio station (Baofeng – 888S (BaofengTech, USA).

Fig. 1

Preparation for ECMO cannulation. ECMO Team in PPE in the isolated ICU room. (authors’ material)

Because this simulation was developed as translational or probing towards creating a nursing protocol for ECMO during COVID-19, therefore its logistics lack the typical structure of a medical simulation. We designed a scenario (Table 1) to test the operational readiness of the ICU environment and staff by monitoring correct PPE use during the care of an ECMO patient. The scenario included a nine-hour simulation of routine work in an ICU with two nurses changing in the non-contaminated (i.e., cold zone) and contaminated area (i.e., hot zone) and a three-hour nursing care “shift” (intervals) in working period time. Additional participants included five medical staff members and two simulation trainers.

Table 1 Summary of the simulation scenario

During the simulations, participants were required to identify the obstacle related to COVID-19 isolation requirements in taking care of the patient on ECMO. After the scenario, they joined a debriefing session lead by the two simulation trainers. The debrief consisted of a discussion, the development of a checklist, and a proposal of a daily nursing routine. Scenario participants were guided to discuss clinical elements of their experience, including retrospective identification of potential technical problems, hidden risks, equipment failures and alarms, and difficulties in using PPE. Issues regarding human factors were also discussed including personal fears, communication, and teamwork. Then each participant was asked to create an equipment checklist, followed by a proposal for an SOP in ECMO for conditions with isolation requirements specific to COVID-19. The process was arranged in the following steps:

• 1. Translational simulation stage

• a. Identification of the problem (PPE, communication, documentation, nursing time for direct patient care, cognitive and behavioral skills, facilitation, and roles of staff members)

• b. Solution of the problem

• c. Training

• 2. Discussion stage

• a. Debriefing and consultation

• b. Recommendation

• c. Proposal for innovation

• d. SOP proposal

• 3. Debriefing and consultations

Debriefing and consultations

We included five participants in the two-hour preparation of Stage 1: developing scenarios, selecting clinical challenges, and identifying solutions. Based on evidence and our experience, translational simulation, and expert consultations, we developed innovations in three main areas, (A) work organization, (B) daily nursing care and management of patients on ECMO and COVID-19, and (C) ECMO cannulation and related procedures. In addition, with the assistance of international experts in ECMO and critical care nursing, we made significant revisions to the initial SOP used at our institution. We invited eleven professionals considered experts in the field. Each had over ten years of experience (including over five in ECMO) from eight different departments. By collaboration, consultation, recommendation, and innovation, they represented expert consensus. They were responsible for Stages 2 of the SOP development.

There was no statistical analysis planned or performed, and all data were qualitatively assessed.

Ethics

Complying with the requirements of the Local Bioethical Committee of Poznan University of Medical Sciences, since the structure of this simulation did not involve patients, no ethical approval was sought.

Results

Several publications on ECMO and nursing were identified, mainly recommendations from regional centers [1,2,3, 26,27,28]. There ELSO also provides guideline. However, they are limited to the use of PPE during ECMO in patients with COVID-19 [5, 10, 13]. We identified one study dedicated to the nursing management of patients with COVID-19 supported on ECMO [8]. It inlcuded a preliminary outline of the issues, mainly concerning the management of human resources on providing ECMO during the pandemic.

Developing the SOP consisted of indicating main issues during simulated ICU work (Stage 1), constructive debriefing and expert consultation (Stage 2). Our team identified over 20 challenges during probing simulation related to PPE, workload, and non-technical skills. Moreover, this simulation helped identify subtle risks and suggest corrective actions.

The most important aspects that can affect the nursing management of patients on ECMO were noted in non-technical skills. They included dedicated training with in-situ simulation, the use of checklists, and trust among the team members. For more effective communication, wearing a tag with a name and role was suggested.

Participants noted that the lack of a dedicated ECMO specialist for managing the ECMO device creates an additional strain on nursing staff in expertise and time management. Checklists for procedures and use of equipment are necessary to develop based on institutional conditions.

One of the most unexpected findings from the discussion phase was the possibility of the disqualification of a patient previously identified as a potential candidate for extracorporeal support and after all equipment had been collected in a hot zone. At the briefing and expert consultation, it was suggested that to prevent unnecessary contamination of the equipment, all equipment should eventually be moved to the hot area after the patient’s qualification has been confirmed.

The results of the participants’ proposals based on the simulated ICU work are summarized in Table 2 and combined into a final SOP (Stage 2) covering three different areas, including work organization (Appendices A), management, and care of patients on ECMO with COVID-19 (Appendices B), and ECMO cannulation and other ECMO-related procedures (Appendices C) (Fig. 2).

Table 2 Results summary of translational simulation, debriefing and expert consultation in management with ECMO supported patients SOP development

Fig. 2

Venous femoral cannulation, percutaneous ultrasound navigated. (authors’ material)

Discussion

A simulation is an excellent tool to assess and reassess skills, knowledge, and technical circumstances. Previously, we described our use of high-fidelity simulations to creating protocols for infrequent, new, and complex procedures in the form of translational simulation [1]. Similarly, simulation can be used to develop standards for new procedures specific to ECMO in two ways, (I) an introduction to develop a procedure or a program with initial teaching for newly starting ECMO programs, or (II) a validation tool for ECMO competency based on real-experience scenarios for established ECMO programs. In our case, it was the former, inevitably lacking a typical structure of the latter (e.g., medical simulation, knowledge evaluation of participating clinical staff before and after simulation, debriefing). However, it was essential for developing an ECMO program at a regional ECMO center. We provide recommendations in the Appendices (A, B, and C) focusing on all aspects of nursing care, including underlying discrepancies and innovations. We believe no general discussion is necessary for SOPs prepared this way.

Translational simulation is an effective probing tool in crisis conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Medical Simulation Center needs to be a part of disseminating knowledge and education. The COVID-19 pandemic created a global crisis in healthcare, forcing changes I established standards of practice in terms of using PPE and general isolation precautions. (re) training clinicians, reorganizing existing medical infrastructure and facilities, and creating new ones.

Additionally, it is possible to recognize issues through reports and data analysis regarding COVID-19 infections. Evolving challenges influencing the healthcare sector like viral mutations and vaccine development targeting those call for new collaborations and knowledge sharing among different stakeholders in healthcare, helping to defeat COVID-19 pandemic faster [29]. New trends are published in professional journals in medicine, economics, management, informatics technology, etc., on analyzing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from different perspectives. Collaboration of this expanded multi-professional group is necessary for developing and carrying out effective plans. The same in clinical areas of patient care is important using modern technology (digital Health, medHealth, telehealth, telemedicine, personalized medicine, etc.) for solutions in protecting healthcare personnel, quickly detect and prevent the spread of COVID-19, and improve intensive care for the patient [29]. The R&D cooperation between academia, institutions, and businesses, with the use of advanced knowledge and technology, can also significantly contribute to improve medical therapy (e.g., design and manufacture safe vaccines against COVID-19).

Typically, the lack of the possibility for clinical training of medical personnel is balanced by using medical simulation. Medical centers worldwide found themselves in the same situation providing training for clinicians most exposed to the COVID-19 infection. The pandemic also necessitated changes in critical care. In these difficult times, we need to improve cooperation and use of local potential in collaboration with partners to develop better therapies for patients [29]. The knowledge hub in the ecosystem of medical simulation, responsible for integrating external partners, coordinating innovative cooperation, transferring and diffusing knowledge, monitoring, managing, and controlling its’ function, continuously improving existing procedures and qualifications and skills of professionals within a dedicated educational platform is essential [30]. By getting involved in cooperation and sharing knowledge and experience through patient-centered care and innovation, we can contribute to a more rapid defeat of the pandemic [30, 31].

Appropriate level of PPE

The PPE used by personnel working in the “hot zone” during routine care was defined by the local epidemiological institutional policies and the availability of PPE.

The WHO provides guidelines for both prevention and protection related to COVID-19. Studies demonstrated that for performing aerosol-generating procedures, the proper level of PPE includes a respirator, eye protection goggles, a gown with long sleeves, and a full-length isolation gown [7, 8, 20, 28]. The correct use of PPE by healthcare professionals is elemental for limiting the spread of infection. Detailed recommendations for the using PPE during ECMO have been included in the latest COVID-19 guidelines by ELSO [5]. A full-face mask with an absorber and a level 3 protection (Scott-Vision 4000 with Pro2000 filter, 3 M, USA) is safe and comfortable (Fig. 4). A full-face mask prevents evaporation and does not decrease voice reception. With horizontal and vertical curvatures and excellent optical properties, it does not distort the wearer’s view. Our simulation demonstrated better protection by full-face masks with a side filter connector than a bottom (chin) mask, as it covers and sits on the front of the protective clothing (Figs. 3 and 4).

Fig. 3

VV ECMO run in isolated ICU room. (authors’ material)

Fig. 4

Full-face mask with absorber (Scott-Vision 4000 with Pro2000 filter, 3 M, USA). Personnel name marked on apron. (authors’ material)

The layers of PPE covering the clinician can be a source of miscommunication in contaminated areas, so our team suggests increasing the use of non-verbal communication methods such as writing, eye contact, and closed-loop communication. To decrease stress in actual clinical areas, we highly recommend in-situ simulation wearing PPE.

Critical care in an isolation room

In many ECMO centers, the criteria for ECMO have been restricted due to a lack of human resources. Our simulation has demonstrated two key factors important for managing patients with COVID-19, the ability to properly communicate and strategically minimize the number of clinicians in the patient’s room. The balance between providing an efficient therapy and safety of personnel requires strict control with PPE, compliance with respecting the hot and cold zones [8], and adherence to standards of involving only the necessary number of clinicians in the isolation room [20, 32].

Lessons learned from epidemics and pandemics of the past are incorporated into contemporary strategies of modified systems including timely notifications, isolation precautions, infection prevention, and environmental cleanliness of ICUs [6, 8, 11, 33]. Minimizing the frequency of opening the door of the patient’s room was significant during the simulation. Reducing the nurse-to-patient ratio to 1:1 will be necessary for the aspect of lack of human resources. Additionally, it decreases the frequency the nurse moves in and out of the room [34, 35]. Assigning one nurse for each zone, efficient nursing communication, and a larger isolation room helped improve efficiency in therapy. Exceptions are situations that require the presence of additional clinicians (e.g., CPR, patient prone positioning or transferring). Optimal work time should not exceed three hours in the hot zone and three hours in the cold zone during a 12-h duty, and in the case of a limited number of ECMO specialists, when the nurse must take care of the ECMO device and circuit.

For collecting equipment, using a checklist was a new and efficient approach (Appendices C and Table 3).

Table 3 ECMO cannulation equipment checklist proposal

Specific care related to ECMO

Managing a patient with COVID-19 also on ECMO requires additional multidisciplinary staff with expertise in ECMO. Moreover, the unknown of the novel pandemic mandated modifying standards related to the use of PPE and the increased patient workload. Optimization, maintenance, and adherence to isolation specific to COVID-19 are necessary to reduce the risk of transmission of infection to the highly specialized ECMO team. Their well-being is crucial for providing ECMO support to the most critically ill COVID-19 patients [9].

Pandemic-specific nursing management

In the proposed SOP, nurses play an integral role in the ECMO team. They are responsible for monitoring the ECMO device and patient hemodynamics [10, 36], and responding to ECMO emergencies, while following the strict infection control specific to COVID-19. This can lead to significant physical and mental stress [8]. Ongoing training, including appropriate use of PPE, daily management of ECMO, and readiness for ECMO emergency, helps less experienced clinicians prevent burnout and improve preparedness for any upcoming pandemic [10]. For collecting equipment, direct checklists should be utilized.

Innovation

It seems reasonable to build isolation rooms with easy viewing, with continuous monitoring and communication ability from outside the room, especially during procedures. An alternative solution can be to design a control room with constant monitoring of the patient with projecting two cameras, at a minimum.

Communication

We have learned that using PPE required for patients with COVID-19 causes additional anxiety and discomfort to staff. Nursing care and communication among team members is an added challenge [32]. The introduction of facilities over intercom, continuous availability, and assistance of a nurse from the “cold zone”; names written on tags and secured on isolations gowns of the auxiliary staff, writing essential information on a window, glass or board helps decrease stress and inconveniences (Fig. 4). Our simulation also demonstrates the usefulness of full-face masks and wireless radio systems between the zones for communication. Part of communication support can be radio, mobile phone or writing on glass window. In some situations, only written orders should be used, especially for pharmacotherapy.

Training and simulation

Providing ECMO therapy requires the education and training of clinicians, including high-fidelity simulation [10]. Moreover, due to the current global state of the pandemic, added attention is necessary. Medical simulation in ECMO has been used for almost 20 years [10, 32, 33, 36]; it created new procedures and built ECMO-dedicated teams [16, 37, 38].

When providing ECMO for patients with COVID-19, diligence in caring for the patient, nursing management, and monitoring the ECMO device are fundamentals of nursing. Training nurses to monitor the ECMO circuit, including, but not limited to the colour of blood in the ECMO tubing, pressures in the circuit pre- and post- oxygenator, and interventional clamping of ECMO cannulas in an ECMO emergency [36]. We know from our past simulations that nurses can detect potential emergencies and ad hoc interventions preceding support from “cold zone”. It is significant for training that checklist for collecting equipment, staff activity, interventions, troubleshooting the ECMO device alarms, and routine nursing care are used (Appendices B).

Limitations

This is a single-center study, hence the implementation of the approach used for the simulation is feasible only at centers with similar structures. Because each hospital’s critical care department has a different organizational structure, the impact of a pandemic state can cause unique conditions, which cannot be objectively created for simulation training purposes. Additionally, our SOP proposals have not been evaluated formally. Given the unprecedented circumstances of COVID-19, such an evaluation was not possible. While this proposal lacks formality, and is not easily generalizable, it is comprehensive, and, to our knowledge, remains the only proposal in this area.

Conclusion

High-fidelity simulation can enhance existing expertise in clinical standards of care. Although an unprecedented pandemic creates unpredictable barriers, we demonstrated the possibility of implementing an initial simulation strategy resulting in a proposal for a nursing SOP for the most critically ill with COVID-19 on ECMO therapy. This simulation project can guide intensive care units and departments of operations in aspects of care that may require focus and modifications before admitting COVID-19 patients or in a future pandemic. We recommend implementing in situ simulation training to identify unit- or institution-specific risks and create individualized protocols. Other available guidelines along with our proposal are recommended to consider and modify to own unique circumstances. Cooperation and willingness to share knowledge and experience using medical simulations will likely allow developing and improving novel SOPs in increased safety of clinicians and patients with COVID-19 on ECMO support.

Terms

“cold zone” - epidemiologically clean zone.

“hot zone” - epidemiologically contaminated zone.