title: A qualitative exploration of acute care and psychological distress experiences of ECMO survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the acute care experience of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ECMO is used in life-threatening scenarios of acute lung or heart failure. The patient's experience with ECMO treatment and the psychological distress are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with ECMO survivors 12 months after discharge were conducted and thematically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten participants treated with ECMO for life-threatening acute heart or lung failure were interviewed. Six themes that captured the ICU experience of ECMO patients were identified including; dealing with crisis, critical care, memory, role of significant others and existence today and tomorrow. Deconditioning was the most frequently reported experience. Patchy factual memories contrasted with detailed delirious memories and paranoid ideations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients treated with ECMO experienced deconditioning, perceived threats of serious injury or death and delusional episodes with recalls of psychological distress.
authors.affiliation: Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre (ANZIC-RC), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre L6, 99 Commercial Rd, Prahran, 3004 Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: ralph.tramm@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tramm
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (DEPM), Monash University, The Alfred Centre L6, 99 Commercial Rd, Prahran, 3004 Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ilic
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (DEPM), Monash University, The Alfred Centre L6, 99 Commercial Rd, Prahran, 3004 Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, The Alfred Hospital, Commercial Rd, Prahran, 3004 Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheldrake
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care and Hyperbaric Medicine, The Alfred Hospital, Commercial Rd, Prahran, 3004 Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.affiliation: Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre (ANZIC-RC), Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Centre L6, 99 Commercial Rd, Prahran, 3004 Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hodgson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards*; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Critical care; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Intensive care; Intensive care experience; Mental health; Psychological; Qualitative research; Stress; Stress disorder; Survivors