BANGALORE. The Aster International ECMO Summit 2024, held at JW Marriott, Bengaluru, proved to be a landmark event, bringing together global experts and healthcare professionals to explore the latest advancements in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), Critical Care, and Thoracic Transplantation.
Insights from Dr. Pavan Yadav, Lead Consultant, Interventional Pulmonology and Lung Transplantation, ASTER RV Hospital:
"ECMO as a life support has become an indispensable part of modern critical care. As a center with Lung transplantation facilities, ECMO is all the more important to support patients who develop severe respiratory or cardiac failure. ECMO works as a life support in these patients and helps in bridging them to transplant when required. For all these reasons, ECMO has taken center stage in modern critical care."
The conference attracted 17 international faculties, including experts from Mayo Clinic in the USA, Monash University and Health New Zealand, fostering a dynamic platform to delve into the intricacies of ECMO and Critical Care.
ECMO's Pivotal Role in Pandemic and Critical Conditions:
The conference shed light on the increased awareness of ECMO technology, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. As Dr. Pavan Yadav explained, "Even the general population has become more aware of ECMO technology and facilities with its increasing popularity. It has become the next ventilator, serving as a life-saver for critically ill patients with acute or severe lung conditions, cardiac failure, low cardiac output, or those waiting for lung transplants."
Key Highlights of the Conference:
Workshops: State-of-the-art sessions on ECMO initiation troubleshooting and weaning, Organ Transport systems like Ex Vivo and EVLP, and Techno-workshops on Mechanical Circulatory Support provided hands-on experiences for attendees.
Debates and Discussions: Engaging debates on cannulation techniques, Hemostasis, ECPR, and Transportation on ECMO patients sparked valuable discussions among participants.
Pediatric ECMO Focus: Special consideration was given to Pediatric ECMO, highlighting its importance in conditions like acute viral myocarditis, refractory ARDS, and refractory septic shocks. Experts emphasized the potential for survival reaching up to 60% if ECMO is considered early.
"The ECMO Conference 2024 is a dynamic interactive platform that provides an exceptional opportunity for healthcare professionals to deepen their understanding of ECMO, learn from specialists worldwide, and stay updated on the latest developments in critical care and thoracic transplantation."
Future Possibilities Explored:
The conference not only conferred current advancements but also explored future possibilities in ECMO and Critical Care. Interactive sessions and workshops provided an abundance of opportunities for learning, exploration, innovation, and collaboration among the eminent faculties and attendees.
Overview of the Three-Day Conference:
Participants gained insights into ECMO's principles and physiology, indications and contraindications, circuit components and setup, cannulation techniques, anticoagulation management, complications prevention and management, future trends, and advances in technology. The agenda covered ECMO in respiratory and cardiac failure, organ donation after circulatory death, rehabilitation, long-term outcomes of ECMO survivors, quality improvement, and program development.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration Encouraged:
The conference encouraged interactions and teamwork among various healthcare professions. It provided a special forum for interdisciplinary cooperation, promoting conversations that cut across conventional boundaries and encouraged a patient-centered approach.