ASCEND is a study looking at children who need a special life support called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) due to a condition called pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS). ECMO acts like an artificial lung outside the body to help children breathe when their lungs fail. The study aims to understand how these children do in life and compare outcomes between two groups: one using a specific breathing machine plan and the other using usual ECMO care.

Researchers will follow children for up to one year, checking their abilities and quality of life at different times. They will use existing data from two sources: PROSpect, a trial testing other breathing methods, and ELSO, a registry of children who had usual ECMO care. The study will measure if there are differences in survival, health, and need for breathing support.

• Participation can last up to a year with multiple check-ins.
• The study may involve surveys and assessments at various times.
• There are no risks associated with participating in the study, as it uses existing data.