The ELSO Maastricht Treaty for ECLS Nomenclature: abbreviations for cannulation configuration in extracorporeal life support - a position paper of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization

Table 1 Nomenclature for configuration of peripheral cannulation in extracorporeal life support

Modes		VV (ECMO)		VA (ECMO)	VVA (ECMO)			AV (ECCO₂R)
Flow direction, from ➔ ML➔ to		V-V, VV-V	V-V	V-A, VV-A	V-VA	V-VA	V-AV	A-V
Configuration		Single-lumen cannulae	Dual-lumen cannula	Single-lumen cannulae	Single-lumen cannulae from V-V	Dual-lumen cannula from V-V	Single-lumen cannulae from V-A	Single-lumen cannulae
Level 1: Hierarchy	Upper case = major flow cannula Lower case = minor flow cannula	Vcep-V	(dl)V-V, (ca)V-V, (bc)Vcep-V	V-Ad, (dl)VV-Ad	Vv-VAd	(dl)V-VA	V-AdV	(pl)A-V
Level 2: Cannulation site	Indexed	V_f-V_j	(dl)V_f-V, (ca)V_jcep-V	V_j-A_f, V_jV_f-A_fd, V_j-A_car	V_f-V_jA_f	(bc)V_j-VA_fd	V_j-A_fV_f	(pl)A_fl-V_fr
Level 3: Tip position	Indexed	V_ivc-V_a, V_jacep-V_f	V_fsvc-V_f	V_ja-A_flid_pvnt_al, V_ja-A_srg, V_j-A_i	V_f-V_fivcA_f, V_f-V_jA_i	(ca)V_j-VA_slc	V_jav_c-A_frd_pV_fr	(pl)A_fri-V_fli
Level 4: Cannula dimension	OD/L, L is never given unless OD first	V21/50-V17, V21_f-V17_fivc V23/25_a-V17_f	(dl31)V-V, (ca32)V_jcep-V	V25/25-A17/18, V29_fa-A_fd_t V25_flsvc-A_fl19d_p	V25/38_j-V_f A19/18_fd_t	(dl23)V-VA_f	V25/25_jav_a-A21_frd_pV17/50_fr	(pl)A15/17_fr-V15_fl

Abbreviations: (−), membrane lung, bc bi-caval dual-lumen cannula, ca cavo-atrial dual-lumen cannula, dl dual-lumen cannula, ECMO extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, ECCO2R extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal, VA V-A venoarterial, VV V-V venovenous, VVA venovenoarterial
Level 1: A, arterial; cep, cephalad drainage; d, distal perfusion of cannulated leg; P, pulmonary artery; pl, pumpless; V, venous; vnt, cardiac venting
Level 2: car, carotid; f, femoral; g, chimney graft; j, jugular; l, left; r, right; s, subclavian
Level 3: a, atrium (V_a, “a” index for venous cannula tip in right atrium; vnt_al, “al”, (“ar”) index for venting catheter in left (right) atrium); c, left cardiac ventricle (vnt_c, “c” index for venting catheter position); i, iliac vein/lower inferior vena cava, or iliac artery; ivc, hepatic vein level in inferior vena cava; l, left; p, pedal (ankle), (d_p, “p” indicate distal (pedal) retrograde perfusion at ankle of cannulated leg); r, right; svc, superior vena cava; t, thigh (groin), (d_t, “t” denotes distal perfusion with cannula placed in femoral cannulation site)
Level 4: L, cannula length in centimeters; OD, cannula outer diameter in French (1 Fr = 1/3 mm)

ISSN: 1364-8535