ECMO sweep / flow titration helper
ELSO 2022 ECMO sweep/flow titration helper: suggested sweep from the linear PaCO2-sweep heuristic, suggested pump flow, and DO2i (target >= 6 mL/kg/min) from Hb and saturation.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Modality
- VV (respiratory)
- Patient weight
- 70 kg
- Current sweep
- 4 L/min
- Current pump flow
- 4 L/min
- Current PaCO2
- 50 mmHg
- Target PaCO2
- 40 mmHg
- Hemoglobin
- 10 g/dL
- SaO2 or post-oxygenator SatO2
- 90 % or fraction
Result: Suggested sweep 5 L/min; DO2i ~6.9 mL/kg/min (ELSO 2022 target >= 6).
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- DO2i < 6 mL/kg/min
- Below ELSO 2022 target; increase pump flow.
- VV SatO2 >= 80%
- Acceptable VV target per ELSO 2022; do not titrate to perfect SatO2.
What you enter
- Modality
- Patient weight
- Current sweep
- Current pump flow
- Current PaCO2 (for the sweep titration)
- Target PaCO2 (defaults to 40 mmHg, which the reading names)
- Hemoglobin (with the saturation, for DO2i and the flow suggestion)
- SaO2 or post-oxygenator SatO2 (with the hemoglobin, for DO2i)
How this is calculated
Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). ELSO Adult and Paediatric Respiratory Failure Guidelines, Version 1.5, 2022. Encodes the linear PaCO2-sweep heuristic and the DO2i target >=6 mL/kg/min for VV ECMO.
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.