Nursing approach to the person in critical situation submitted to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: scoping review

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) corresponds to a form of mechanical cardiopulmonary support used to treat severe respiratory failure, since it allows extracorporeal gas exchange. Additionally, in patients with severe heart failure, or experiencing cardiorespiratory arrest, this technique also provides systemic circulation. Nevertheless, ECMO carries some risks, such as clot formation. It is in this context that the nurse has a key role. Objective: To map the available scientific evidence about the nurses' approach to the critically ill person subjected to ECMO. Method: We conducted a scoping review, using databases accessed through the EBSCOhost platform and following the methodology proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Through the combination of appropriate MesH descriptors, we selected articles published between 2009 and 2019, written in Portuguese or English. Results: Five studies were included in the review. Their analysis allowed us to verify that the nurse's approach focuses on the monitoring, surveillance, management and coordination of the care provided to critically ill patients subjected to ECMO. It was also found that the adoption of adequate protocols, the training of the multidisciplinary teams and an efficient communication between team members contributed to an effective, safe and high-quality performance when facing patients subjected to ECMO. Conclusion: An appropriate nursing approach is essential to ensure the provision of care with quality, and safety, to the patient subjected to ECMO.