Setting up a Rescue Extracorporeal Life Support Program

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is a high-risk, lifesaving medical treatment that is typically limited to centers that can support a comprehensive ECLS program. Rescue programs can bridge the gap in care between ECLS centers and other tertiary pediatric centers without cardiac surgical and comprehensive ECLS support. We describe how our pediatric center without cardiac surgery successfully partnered with an established ECLS center to develop a Rescue ECLS Cannulation Program. This formalized program provides cannulation and stabilization by a specialized team at the presenting hospital before being transported to a partner hospital. This article outlines how we established our unique Rescue ECLS Cannulation program. We outline the planning, development, and implementation of the program and describe the unique aspects contributing to successful implementation including longitudinal training, staged program evolution, and a bundled approach to care. We also describe the patients who we have cannulated since its inception. Rescue ECLS Cannulation Programs provide access to consistent, high-quality, and lifesaving care to critically ill patients at sites without the resources to support a full ECLS program.