CONGRESS ABSTRACT

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is an advanced extracorporeal life support technique increasingly used in patients with severe cardiac and/or respiratory failure, particularly in cases of cardiogenic shock and refractory cardiac arrest. The effectiveness of ECMO is strongly influenced by the organization, expertise, and integration of the multidisciplinary team involved in patient management. Within this context, the anesthesia nurse plays a key role due to advanced competencies in the care of critically ill patients with high clinical complexity. This narrative review aims to describe and map the role and specific competencies of the anesthesia nurse within the care pathway of patients undergoing ECMO support, with particular focus on cardiovascular stabilization and monitoring. A narrative review of the literature was conducted by consulting major scientific databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Studies relevant to advanced nursing care in ECMO settings were identified using the keywords ECMO, anesthesia nurse, critical care nursing, and extracorporeal life support. The literature highlights that the anesthesia nurse is actively involved in all phases of the ECMO pathway. Core competencies include patient preparation and advanced airway management, collaboration in deep sedation and mechanical ventilation management, continuous monitoring of hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, and surveillance of ECMO circuit performance. In addition, the anesthesia nurse plays a crucial role in the early recognition and management of major complications such as bleeding, cannula displacement, and circuit malfunction, working in close collaboration with anesthesiologists, intensivists, perfusionists, and other healthcare professionals. The anesthesia nurse represents a strategic professional figure within the ECMO team, contributing significantly to patient safety, procedural efficiency, and quality of care. Structured integration within the multidisciplinary team and dedicated training programs are essential to optimize clinical outcomes in critically ill cardiac patients.