Introduction Neurological complications are a major contributor to morbidity in neonatal patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Adequate neurological monitoring during ECMO enables the early recognition and management of neurological injury. In addition, long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up after ECMO allows for the early identification of neurodevelopmental delay and the timely initiation of interventions. Therefore, standardized neurological monitoring and structured long-term follow-up in neonatal patients receiving ECMO support are essential to reduce the incidence and severity of neurological complications, improve prognosis, and enhance the quality of life of affected children. Methods and analysis This is a Protocol for a Systematic Review and GRADE-Based Expert Consensus. This protocol outlines the methodology and process for developing the “Chinese Expert Consensus for Neurological Monitoring and Long-term Follow-Up in Neonatal Patients Supported on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) (2025).” It details the purpose, target patient population, composition of the consensus working group, presentation and collection of clinical questions, rigorous evaluation and summarization of evidence, and formulation of expert recommendations. This structured approach enhances the standardization and transparency of the consensus development process. Ethics and dissemination This expert consensus has been registered bilingually with the International Practice Guidelines Registry Platform (IPGRP) under the registration number PREPARE-2024CN1051. The final recommendations will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at national and international conferences, educational workshops, and postings on widely used medical platforms in China. The aim is to support healthcare professionals, improve clinical outcomes, and inform health policy development in neonatal critical care.
Lu et al. (Wed,) studied this question.