2026 NSW ECLS Symposium

23rd November 2026

VENUE: Kerry Packer Education Centre
Johns Hopkins Drive, RPA Hospital Precinct

Registrations have opened!

The NSW ECLS Symposium is a face-to-face, one-day event for all Clinicians involved in the care of the ECLS Patient, or for those who may need to refer to the NSW ECLS Retrieval service.

2026 NSW ECLS Symposium

Monday 23 November 2026
Kerry Packer Education Centre, RPA Hospital precinct

About the symposium

The 2026 NSW ECLS Symposium will feature a diverse program of expert presentations, patient-centred discussions and practical case-based learning. Sessions will explore current challenges and emerging approaches in extracorporeal life support, with a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary care and collaboration across the NSW ECLS network.

Participants will have opportunities to exchange experiences, compare practices between centres and identify ways to strengthen the quality and consistency of ECLS care throughout NSW.

Program highlights include:

Cardiogenic shock and the haemodynamic effects of VA-ECMO
Anticoagulation, bleeding and blood management
Impella, ECPELLA and mechanical circulatory support
Paediatric ECMO and multimodal organ support
VV-ECMO for severe refractory asthma
Patient experience and rehabilitation after ECMO
Interactive roundtable discussions based on real-world cases
Developing a consistent statewide approach to ECMO education and training

We invite you to join us for this annual multidisciplinary education event.
Catering is included in registration.

Call for Poster Abstracts – Now Open

Share your work at the 2026 NSW ECMO/ECLS Symposium!

We invite clinicians, nurses, perfusionists, allied health professionals, researchers and educators to submit abstracts showcasing research, quality improvement, education, simulation and innovation in ECMO and extracorporeal life support.

Poster submissions may be electronic posters or hard copy posters for display at the Symposium.

This year, submissions are open across two streams:

Original & New Work – unpublished research, audits, QI and educational projects.
Encore Presentations – work presented at recent national or international conferences, allowing it to reach a global ECLS audience.

Whether you’re presenting original research, a quality improvement initiative or an innovative education project, we’d love to showcase your work.

Abstract submissions close: Friday 16 October 2026 (COB)

Submit your abstract today and help shape the future of ECMO and ECLS care across NSW.

2026 NSW ECLS PROGRAM

Monday 23 November 2026
8:45 am	Registration
9:00 to 09:05am	Welcome
9:05 to 09:15	Introduction		Lewis McLean / Sharon-Ann Shunker Co-chairs ICNSW ECMO Education Group
09:15 to 09:45	Cardiogenic shock and the ACI Cardiogenic Shock CPG		Mark Dennis
09:45 to 10:15	Haemodynamic effects of VA-ECMO: Does VA ECMO increase LVEDP and LV work? Separating fact from fiction – is it time to rewrite the textbooks?		Rajat Kalra
10:15 to 10:45	Morning tea
10:45 to 11:15	Anticoagulation for ECMO		Tim Southwood / Ruan Vlok
11:15 to 11:45	Panel Discussion: Blood Management in ECMO		Hergen Buscher
11:45 to 12:15	Research presentation: Retrospective cohort of MFP use at a transplant centre in NSW		Jamie Andrews
12:15 to 12:45	The role of ECPELLA and hypothermic machine perfusion in decompensated giant cell myocarditis.		Claude Soto
1245 to 1315	Paediatric ECMO – multimodal interventions (ECMO, CRRT, TPE)		Sandra Charlton/Marino Festa
13:15 to 13:45	Lunch
13:45 to 14:15	An ECMO patient story		Michelle and George Smiroldo
14:15 to 14:45	Analysing results of ECMO rehab – what it means from an allied health perspective		Elise Crothers
1445 to 1615	Roundtable Discussion Participants will work through case-based scenarios, share their own practical experience and compare approaches across ECLS centres.
Rotating groups	Group 1 — ECPELLA: service implementation and transport A case-based discussion exploring the development of an MCRS service, patient selection, multidisciplinary coordination and the practical considerations involved in transporting patients receiving Impella or ECPELLA support. Lewis McLean / Mitchell Tisdell / Sarah Birch	Group 2 — VV-ECMO for severe asthma A case-based discussion examining patient selection, timing of ECMO initiation, management priorities, ventilation and weaning strategies, and approaches to supporting patients with severe refractory asthma for adults and paediatrics. Tim Southwood / Sandra Charlton / Mariepaz Hazell	Group 3 — VA-ECMO A case-based discussion exploring clinical decision-making, management challenges and different centre-based approaches to caring for patients receiving VA-ECMO, including discussion of bleeding and anticoagulation challenges. Peter McCanny/ Dave Gale / Ruaidhri Carey
16:15 to 16:45	Q&A on Standardised approach to ECMO Education and Training
16:45 to 17:00	Evaluation and close