EuroELSO Working Groups
Under the auspices of EuroELSO, a variety of multidisciplinary working groups have been established to drive forward research initiatives in the field of Extracorporeal Life Science. These efforts aim to broaden and deepen the collective understanding of this critical area of medicine.
Participation in these working groups is open to professionals from all backgrounds. Current areas of focus include, among others, the following topics and research projects:
Coagulation, antithrombotics and patient blood management
Focus: This working group has been established with the overarching goal of facilitating scientific advancements in the field of (anti) coagulation, antithrombotics and blood management for patients on ECMO.
The main focus of this working group will be: To assess current knowledge gaps regarding antithrombotic and patient blood management and provide expert consensus on research priorities, to understand the mechanism of coagulopathy during ECMO and its clinical impact, to understand the difficulties of patient blood management during ECMO, to characterize and optimize reporting of bleeding and thromboembolic events and to characterize and optimize management of hemolysis during ECMO support
This working group possesses a defined structure, objectives, and an evaluation process.
Read our document that summarizes the fundamentals of the group.
We invite all the ECMO community to join us, including, but not limited to, nurses, perfusionists, basic scientists, and professionals from laboratory medicine or related disciplines. Multidisciplinary collaboration is one of our core values, and we welcome diverse perspectives and expertise.
Contact:
Annemieke Oude Lansink-Hartgring
EuroELSO Representative
a.oudelansink@umcg.nl
Nina Buchtele & Christophe Vandenbriele
Co-Chairs
ECLS transport
Topic: Create cross-societal quality standards for ECLS transport, including equipment/devices, education, etc. Advocacy for, and development of (European) ECLS Transport Registry for improved quality, safety, and benchmarking of transport complications, etc.
Partners: ESPNIC Workgroup on Paediatric ECMO Transport.
If you want to join, please send CV and short personal letter.
Contact:
Lars Mikael Broman
EuroELSO Representative
lars.broman@regionstockholm.se
ECLS in accidental hypothermia Focus Group of ECPR Working Group
Topic: The group aims to enhance awareness of hypothermia within the ELSO community and to foster collaboration among ELSO centres in this regard. We support both clinical and basic research to deepen understanding and improve outcomes in hypothermic patients treated with ECMO.
Contact:
Evelien Cools
Gabriele Putzer
Justyna Swol
EuroELSO Representative
euroelso@interplan.de
Education in ECLS
Focus: This working group is dedicated to enhancing ECMO-related education and training across Europe. It’s mission is to develop and standardize high-quality educational resources, in collaboration with other ELSO chapters.
Contact:
Jordi Riera
EuroELSO Representative
jordi.rieradelbrio@vallhebron.cat
EISOR - Normothermic regional perfusion
Focus: Key focus on developing registry fileds and guidelines for lower body organ perfusion in organ donation.
Contact:
Velia Antonini
EuroELSO Representative
m.antonini@unibo.it
Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resucitation (ECPR)
Topic: EuroELSO has established a new working group on extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). The aim of the group is to support awarness, knowledge, education and research in ECPR.
Contact:
Jan Belohlavek, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine
EuroELSO Past President
EuroELSO Working Group on ECPR chair
euroelso@interplan.de
ECPR - Ehtics and Organ Donation Focused Group
Topic:
The ECPR – Ethics and Organ Donation focused group is a part of EuroELSO ECPR working group dedicated to the ethical challenges surrounding ECPR and organ donation after extracorporeal life support. Our mission is to raise awareness, enhance knowledge, and provide education on ethical issues related to ECPR. We aim to develop clear policies and recommendations addressing complex ethical situations, with particular emphasis on organ donation.
Our focus includes ethical issues around ECMO initiation, management, and withdrawal, end-of-life care, and addressing ageism and other forms of discrimination. Moreover, we aim to develop best practices and clear guidelines for organ donation after extracorporeal life support.
This multidisciplinary and international group welcomes diverse expertise and professions to foster thoughtful and sensitive discussions.
Meetings are organized four times per year.
Contact:
Sasa Rajsic
Innovation on ECMO and ECLS
Focus: Improvements on technological aspects of extracorporeal treatments from all parts of the extracorporeal circuit
Read more about aims, working group members and publications
Contact:
Lisa Prahl Wittberg
EuroELSO Representative
euroelso@interplan.de
Neurological outcomes
Focus: Key focus on harmonisation of monitoring and definition of neurological outcomes in both pediatric and adult practice in Europe.
Contact:
Aparna Hoskote
EuroELSO Representative
aparna.hoskote@gosh.nhs.uk
Roberto Lorusso
EuroELSO Representative
euroelso@interplan.de
Nosocomial infection and antibiotic treatment
Focus: This working group has been established with the overarching goal of facilitating scientific advancements in the field of nosocomial infection and antibiotic treatment among patients undergoing ECLS. The subject holds paramount importance, exerting a vital impact on the clinical progress of our patients, yet remains largely unexplored. It is noteworthy that there exists a lack of consensus on the fundamental definitions of infectious processes in the ECLS setting, and the adjustment of antimicrobial dosages varies significantly between centers.
This working group possesses a defined structure, objectives, and an evaluation process.
Read our document that summarizes the fundamentals of the group, including the (only two) conditions for membership.
We invite all the ECLS community to join us.
Contact:
Jordi Riera
EuroELSO Representative
jordi.rieradelbrio@vallhebron.cat
Pediatric E-CPR
Topic: The pediatric arm of the EuroELSO E-CPR working Group is developing clear strategies to enhance research and quality improvement strategies and improve the outcome of E-CPR in neonatal and paediatric patients. We are working across the chapters of ELSO to enhance awareness, education and outcomes for this high risk group.
See your PED E-CPR WG publication in Perfusion here.
Contact:
Chair: Mark Davidson
Deputy chair: Ajay Desai
euroelso@interplan.de
Simulation and Artificial Intelligence in ECLS (SAIE)
Detailed information are currently updated and will be provide in due time.
Sustainability - providing future proof ECLS care
Focus: To explore, set standards and implement ways how EuroELSO and the ECMO/ECLS community can deliver their services and patient care as sustainable and future proof as possible.
We invite people involved in patient care and also ECLS industry/developers with an interest in sustainability to come on join this important working group.
The working group is inviting interest people to join our regular online meetings:
2025: 11 March, 11 June, 11 September, 11 December
Always at 17:00 CET/CEST here.
Contact:
Chair: Peter Roeleveld
Co-Chair: Jana Assy
EuroELSO Representative, euroelso@interplan.de