Virtual reality device training for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Excerpt

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a last resort therapy for patients with terminal respiratory failure. In the current worldwide surge of critically ill patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), ECMO demand for the sickest of them is unprecedentedly high and management is very complex [1]. Highly trained healthcare personnel is essential to safely prime, implant, and operate ECMO devices [2]. Acquisition of such complex skillsets has always been difficult—especially for smaller hospitals with lower ECMO case counts [3]. During the pandemic, traditional face-to-face instructor-led training is additionally complicated by social distancing measures. Alternative and complementary ways of delivering high-quality training are thus desirable to increase personnel resources for ECMO services. …