Recent international ELSO consensus guidelines highlight the role of pupil assessment and the potential value of automated pupillometry in ECMO care.
100% SPECIFICITY FOR 90-DAY MORTALITY
The Neurological Pupil Index (NPi®) is an objective measure of pupillary function generated by the NeurOptics pupillometer. In a study of 100 ECMO patients, an NPi® score <3 between 24-72 hours after cannulation demonstrated 100% specificity for 90-day mortality, with no false positives reported.
Neurological assessment is a critical component of ECMO care, but accurate examination can be challenging following cannulation due to sedation and paralysis. Recent international ELSO consensus guidelines recommend pupil assessment in patients at risk of acute brain injury and state that automated pupillometry should be considered where available.
Why use automated pupillometry in ECMO?
✅ Objective assessment of pupil size and reactivity
✅ Recommended for consideration in recent ELSO consensus guidance
✅ NPi <3 demonstrated 100% specificity for 90-day mortality in a 100-patient ECMO study
✅ Supports neurological monitoring, treatment decisions and prognostication
Click here to see the excerpt from the ELSO guidelines
The NeurOptics NPI-300 Pupillometer provides objective, reproducible measurements of pupil size and reactivity, helping clinicians monitor neurological status when traditional examination may be limited. The NeurOptics NPi® Pupillometer delivers rapid bedside assessments and supports a multimodal approach to neurological monitoring alongside clinical examination, EEG and neuroimaging.
Image shows recommendations for neurological monitoring and neuroimaging on ECMO patients
Image shows recommendations for neurological monitoring and neuroimaging on ECMO patientsValidated in more than 120 peer-reviewed studies and scientific abstracts, the Neurological Pupil Index has become one of the most widely researched objective measures of pupillary function, supporting earlier detection of neurological deterioration, treatment decisions and prognostication in critically ill patients.
