Pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We sought to summarize the literature on communication and decision-making, end-of-life care, and ethical issues to identify recommended approaches and highlight knowledge gaps. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. We reviewed published articles (1972–2020) that examined three pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation domains: 1) decision-making or communication between clinicians and patients/families, 2) ethical issues, or 3) end-of-life care.
Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology. Of 2,581 publications screened, we identified one systematic review and 35 descriptive studies. No practical guides exist for communication and decision-making in pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Conversation principles and parent/clinician perspectives are described. Ethical issues related to consent, initiation, discontinuation, resource allocation, and research. No patient-level synthesis of ethical issues or end-of-life care in pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was identified. Despite numerous ethical issues reported surrounding pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, we found limited patient-level research and no practical guides for communicating with families or managing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation discontinuation.
Reference link- https://journals.lww.com/pccmjournal/fulltext/2021/09000/decision_making,_ethics,_and_end_of_life_care_in.6.aspx
