King's College London

Aims

To advance research, innovation and education in delivery of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The majority of paediatric patients with respiratory failure have been supported with VA ECMO and our main aim is to promote and develop veno-venous ECMO for neonatal and paediatric patients. This theme aims to improve delivery of ECMO though research, education and multicentre collaboration. This will improve care pathways and long-term outcomes for paediatric patients with respiratory failure.

Focus areas

• Refining ECMO cannulation technique for neonatal and paediatric patients to allow more patient nationally and internationally to receive VV ECMO thus reducing their risk of neurological injury and improving short and longterm outcomes.
• Improve multicentre collaboration to improve and develop paediatric ECMO pathways through establishing a national database to allow quality improvement and research across the UK.
• Study and integrate physiological principles and technological advancements to improve management of patients with respiratory failure, reducing length of time requiring organ support and enhancing patient outcomes.
• Improve pathways of patients recovering from ECMO  by providing follow up care and studying neurological, psychological and physical outcomes related to this.

Leadership

• Dr Jon Lillie, Evelina London ECMO lead, National ECMO involvement: Co-chair of UK national ECMO group, Clinical lead for NHS England ECMO service specification, KCL honorary lecturer

Theme Membership and Internal collaborators

• Ajay Desai, RBH ECMO lead, Scientific co-chair of paediatric critical care society and of international ECMO from CPR conference.
• Cecilia Korb, PICU consultant, published on percutaneous ECMO of newborns and infants.
• Ben Crulli, Evelina PICU consultant, KCL honorary lecturer (Publications on Ventilation and ECMO)
• Geoff Burnhill, PICU consultant, published on risk factors for requiring ECMO in newborns with respiratory failure (Publications on DKA and ventilation in addition to ECMO).
• James Diviney, PICU consultant, lead investigator on national study looking at risk factors for requiring ECMO for newborns.
• Saras Sabanathan, paediatric neurology consultant specialising in childhood stroke, leads our ECMO recovery clinic.