Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO)

World's Largest ECMO Patient Registry and Largest Community of ECMO Centers

ELSO was founded in 1989 by Robert H. Bartlett, MD, who is credited with developing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the 1960s and ’70s.

About ELSO

The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) is an international nonprofit consortium of health care institutions, researchers, and industry partners. We provide support to those delivering extracorporeal life support through continuing education, guidelines, original research, publications, and a comprehensive registry of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patient data.



What Is Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)?

Learn all about extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, which is a common treatment in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), COVID-19, and other critical care situations. Although ECMO may not cure the patient, it gives him or her a chance to heal by giving their heart and lungs time to rest.

What Is ECMO? >>

Join ELSO

As a member, you can contribute to and use registry data, benchmark patient outcomes, request data for research, and gain education and training. We offer three membership levels: center, corporate and individual. Learn more about the benefits and apply online

Join ELSO >>

ELSO Registry

We maintain a registry of active ELSO centers that use ECMO. Registry data is used to support clinical research, regulatory agencies and individual ELSO centers who need to make decisions on patient care and treatment protocols

ELSO Registry >>

ECMO in COVID-19

Find resources and guidance for ELSO centers who need to manage COVID-19 patients. We update this information continuously as the scientific data evolves. Plus, check out the COVID-19 Dashboard to help you make decisions in real-time.

ECMO in COVID-19 >>

ELSO Award of Excellence

Our Award for Excellence in Life Support recognizes extracorporeal life support (ECLS) centers that demonstrate exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes, quality measures, staff training, continuing education, patient satisfaction and ongoing care.

ELSO Award of Excellence >>

ELSO Resources

Our discussion board, presentations, job listings, newsletters, guidelines, articles and other useful information help ELSO centers perform at the top of their game. We also help patients, their families and caregivers understand ECMO.

ELSO Resources >>

ELSO Publications

We’ve poured our original research into the comprehensive guides “Extracorporeal Life Support: The ELSO Red Book” and “ECMO Specialist Training Manual,” available in English or Spanish.

ELSO Publications >>

Education & Events

ELSO provides continuing education for active centers as well as for the broader medical and lay communities. Whether you want meetings, courses, workshops, online classes, hands-on simulation training or annual conferences, our educational opportunities help you stay up to date.

Education & Events >>

Join the Discussion

Join the discussion and foster communication and collaboration among professionals who apply advanced technologies in treating refractory organ failure.

Join the Discussion >>

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ELSO Live Registry Dashboard

Total Submitted Cases Total Cases YTD Total Submitted Cases YTD
207,607 11,136 8,915
View Complete Live Registry Dashboard

ELSO is aware of a major ECMO equipment recall. We are taking the following steps:

ELSO Survey

  • ELSO is gathering feedback from ECMO Centers globally to better understand this issue.
Survey Results Now Available

Preliminary findings are being analyzed and the survey is closed

6/9/2023: FDA has issued a new statement on Quadrox Oxygenators.

COVID-19 Cases on ECMO in the ELSO Registry
Total COVID-19 Cases COVID-19
Confirmed Cases
17,223
Total counts of COVID-19 confirmed patients.
Patients who initiated ECMO at
least 90 days ago
COVID-19
Confirmed
15,745
COVID-19
In-hospital Mortality
48%
COVID-19 ECMO counts by ELSO Chapter
North America 10,943
Europe 3,473
Asia Pacific 490
Latin America 1,261
SWAAC 1,149

FULL COVID-19 REGISTRY DASHBOARD

COVID-19 RESOURCES

Disclaimer



Notice:

ELSO – Adult ECMO Practitioner Certification Exam

This exam has been rigorously prepared to meet a global standard to certify foundational knowledge for adult ECMO practitioners. Our exam uses external proctoring to allow for practitioners to sit for the exam using your personal computer at your convenience. Practitioners can apply for eligibility to take the exam. More information can be found on the link below.
https://www.elso.org/Education/certificationexam.aspx

Guidelines for ECMO in COVID-19 patients

ELSO has prepared an in-depth set of guidelines for ECMO in COVID-19 patients. These have been collaboratively developed by a global team of ECMO experts. The guidelines include: patient selection criteria, cannulation and decannulation strategies, transport on ECMO, PPE and staff protection strategies with ECMO, to ethical dilemmas and quality. ELSO wants to recognize the leadership of Kiran Shekar in chairing the development of these guidelines during a critical time.
Guidelines for ECMO in COVID-19 patients Link


Meetings

34th Annual ELSO Conference 09/28/2023 - 10/01/2023
Location: Hyatt Regency Seattle, WA
ELSOConference@elso.org
Posted Date: 06/17/2022
website »

6th APELSO Meeting 11/02/2023 - 11/04/2023
Location: Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas, Seoul, Korea
82-2-6002-1383 secretariat@apelso2023.org
Posted Date: 01/31/2023
website »

10th Annual SWAACELSO Conference 02/15/2024 - 02/17/2024
Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait
Posted Date: 06/19/2023
website »

12th Annual EURO-ELSO Meeting 04/24/2024 - 04/27/2024
Location: Krakow, Poland
Posted Date: 06/19/2023

35th Annual ELSO Conference 09/28/2024 - 10/01/2024
Location: Detroit
ELSOConference@elso.org
Posted Date: 06/17/2022

6th LATAM Conference 11/14/2024 - 11/16/2024
Location: Buenos Aires Argentina
Posted Date: 06/21/2023

ELSO Courses/Workshops

ELSO Foundations Adult ECMO Training Course 12/21/2021 - 12/01/2028
Location: Online
ecmotraining@elso.org
Posted Date: 12/21/2021
website »

ELSO Foundations Adult ECMO Training Course - Spanish Version 12/21/2021 - 12/01/2028
Location: Online
ecmotraining@elso.org
Posted Date: 11/01/2022
website »

Neo Peds ECMO Step 2 Certification Course 09/27/2023 - 09/27/2023
Location: Hyatt Regency Seattle, WA
ecmotraining@elso.org
Posted Date: 07/11/2023
website »

Adult ECMO Step 2 Certification Course 09/27/2023 - 09/27/2023
Location: Hyatt Regency Seattle
ecmotraining@elso.org
Posted Date: 07/11/2023
website »

November 2023 ELSO Adult ECMO Simulation Course 11/08/2023 - 11/11/2023
Location: ELSO Headquarters, Ann Arbor, MI
ecmotraining@elso.org
Posted Date: 12/21/2022
website »

November 2023 ELSO ECMO Cannulation Workshop 11/12/2023 - 11/13/2023
Location: ELSO Headquarters - 3001 Miller Rd, Ann Arbor MI 48103
Posted Date: 06/20/2023
website »

ELSO Adult Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Simulation Course at SCCM 01/19/2024 - 01/20/2024
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posted Date: 08/10/2023
website »