Nurses' views on withdrawing ECMO: a grounded theory study

It was observed in practice that the withdrawal of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was the cause of much ethical and moral discussion amongst nurses within the ITU where the study took place. No previous literature was located addressing the withdrawal of ECMO, from either a medical or nursing perspective. A grounded theory study was conducted to explore the experiences of nurses involved with the withdrawal of ECMO, focusing specifically on the withdrawal of this treatment from adult patients. Three major themes emerged: justification for withdrawal of treatment. the role of the nurse in decision-making. the involvement of others in decision-making. The core category that links the three categories is 'facilitating the decision making process' Recommendations for future practice included, the introduction of regular formal meetings and debriefing, and for further research to be conducted to explore 'corporeal anxiety' and the involvement of relatives in decision making.