Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Pediatric Animal Model of Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation After Prolonged Circulatory Arrest
04:55

Pediatric Animal Model of Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation After Prolonged Circulatory Arrest

Published on: May 26, 2023

Ethical Dilemmas in Pediatric Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Qualitative Study of Interprofessional

Maneesha Limaye1,2, Meagan E Peterson3,4, Sabrina Derrington5

  • 1Division of Critical Care Medicine, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA.

Pediatric Critical Care Medicine : a Journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies
|June 25, 2026
PubMed

Insights

This study explored ethical dilemmas in pediatric extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) by interviewing healthcare teams. A virtues-based ethical framework can help facilitate team dialogue on complex pediatric ECPR cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Bioethics
  • Qualitative research methodology

Background:

  • Ethical dilemmas in pediatric extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) are not well-documented.
  • Understanding interprofessional perspectives is crucial for navigating these complex cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore interprofessional perspectives on pediatric ECPR.
  • To identify and analyze ethical dilemmas encountered by healthcare teams during pediatric ECPR.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive, exploratory qualitative study was conducted.
  • Semi-structured interviews were performed with 15 pediatric providers from surgery, noncardiac intensive care, and perfusion.
  • Data analysis employed constructivist grounded theory and a virtues-based ethical framework.

Main Results:

  • Five major themes emerged: informed consent, decision-making authority, past experiences, end-of-life care, and resource allocation.
  • A virtues-based ethical perspective was used to analyze professional motivations.
  • Thematic saturation was reached through iterative multidisciplinary discussions.

Conclusions:

  • Interprofessional perspectives on pediatric ECPR ethical complexities were explored.
  • A virtues-based ethical framework may aid team dialogue in pediatric ECPR.
  • Further research is needed to assess the impact of this framework on clinical decision-making and team alignment.
Abstract

Keywords:
communicationdecision-makingexploratory studyextracorporeal membrane oxygenationpediatric intensive care

More Related Videos

Standardized Model of Ventricular Fibrillation and Advanced Cardiac Life Support in Swine05:36

Standardized Model of Ventricular Fibrillation and Advanced Cardiac Life Support in Swine

Published on: January 30, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Ethical Dilemmas II01:30

Ethical Dilemmas II

Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
Ethical Issues01:27

Ethical Issues

Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Dilemmas I01:17

Ethical Dilemmas I

Ethical dilemmas in nursing are of utmost importance, as they often arise from the tension between adhering to core ethical principles and the practical realities of healthcare delivery. These dilemmas require nurses to navigate complex situations where competing ethical considerations pull them in different directions.
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
Ethics and Bioethics01:22

Ethics and Bioethics

Ethics is a philosophical study of moral actions. Ethics attempts to determine what is valuable for individuals and society. It examines the rational justification of moral judgments and analyzes what is morally just, fair, and right. Bioethics is a sub-discipline of applied ethics that analyzes the philosophical, social, and legal issues in life sciences and medicine. Ethical theories serve as a foundation for decision-making and represent the viewpoints from which people seek direction. They...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation III: AED Use01:23

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation III: AED Use

Introduction to AEDAn Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable medical device that analyzes the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). SCA occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, leading to a loss of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. In such emergencies, time is of the essence, and using an AED, combined with Cardiopulmonary...
Obedience01:08

Obedience

According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation, obedience...