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. 2019 Feb 8;23(1):36.
doi: 10.1186/s13054-019-2334-8.

The ELSO Maastricht Treaty for ECLS Nomenclature: abbreviations for cannulation configuration in extracorporeal life support - a position paper of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization

Affiliations

The ELSO Maastricht Treaty for ECLS Nomenclature: abbreviations for cannulation configuration in extracorporeal life support - a position paper of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization

Lars Mikael Broman et al. Crit Care. .

Abstract

Background: The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Maastricht Treaty for Nomenclature in Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) established consensus nomenclature and abbreviations for ECLS to ensure accurate, concise communication.

Methods: We build on this consensus nomenclature by layering a framework of precise and efficient abbreviations for cannula configuration that describe flow direction, number of cannulae used, any additional ECLS-related catheters, and cannulation sites. This work is a consensus of international representatives of the ELSO, including those from the North American, Latin American, European, South and West Asian, and Asian-Pacific chapters of ELSO.

Results: The classification increases in descriptive capability by introducing a third (cannula tip position) and fourth (cannula dimension) level to those provided in the previous consensus on ECLS cannulation configuration nomenclature. This expansion offers the simplest level needed to convey cannulation information yet allows for more details when required.

Conclusions: A complete nomenclature for ECLS cannulation configurations accommodating future revisions was developed to facilitate ability to compare practices and results, to promote efficient communication, and to improve quality of registry data.

Keywords: Abbreviation; Cannula; Configuration; ELSO; Extracorporeal life support; Membrane oxygenation; Nomenclature.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Anatomical locations for cannulation and tip positioning. All potential peripheral cannulation sites of venous/drainage or arterial/return can be easily identified with different letters (see text for further details). Cannula tip positions are indicated by blue circles
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Different levels of the nomenclature. The nomenclature levels are presented in order from Level 1 to Level 4. Abbreviations may be used according to each center’s praxis from Level 1 or more detailed. Levels may be combined according to the user’s preference, e.g., Levels 2 and 4. The drainage cannula is placed on the left of the hyphen (“-”). The return cannula is placed on the right side. More precise positions (that do not directly relate to a cannula or catheter) are given as indexes, e.g., femoral (f), left (l) or right (r), atrium (a). For the complete lists of abbreviations, see Table 2 and Additional file 1
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Cannula length and diameter. Length and diameter of each cannula are reported as shown in this example. The diameter printed refers to the outer cannula diameter

References

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