ECMONet Co-Chair, Carol Hodgson, together with ECMO-Rehab Co-Investigator Lisa Higgins, will present the first major results of their international trial at this year’s Critical Care Reviews Down Under (CCR Down Under).

ECMO is typically associated with prolonged immobility and inflammation, which may contribute to severe muscle weakness and wasting. Recent international guidelines have advocated for early rehabilitation in patients receiving ECMO, but there is limited information about the risks or benefits.

The Early Rehabilitation in Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO-Rehab) trial is a 100-patient multicentre trial embedded in the EXCEL and INDEX registries. ECMO-Rehab investigated the effectiveness of early rehabilitation on disability at day-180 compared to the usual level of in-ICU rehabilitation in adults receiving ECMO in ICU.

In their presentation at CCR Down Under, Carol and Lisa will share fascinating results including the delivery of early rehabilitation in patients receiving ECMO, and the effect of early rehabilitation on patient-centred outcomes including disability, function and quality of life. The session includes Editorial Comments from Michelle Kho, Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, followed by a panel discussion.

Stream free online 10 December from 3.30pm AEDT.

Register below for updates.

The Early Rehabilitation in Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO-Rehab)
presented as part of CCR Down Under
Wednesday 10 December 2025
3.30pm - 5.00pm AEDT
Stream free online.

ECMO-Rehab: Stream free online 10 December

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