Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a highly specialized, temporary form of life support. It is used for patients with life-threatening heart or lung failure who are not responding to standard treatments like mechanical ventilators or medications.
How Does ECMO Work?
An ECMO machine functions as an artificial heart and lung outside the body. During treatment:
- Blood is drawn out of the patient's body using large tubes (cannulas).
- The blood passes through an oxygenator (membrane), which adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, mimicking the lungs.
- A pump then returns the warmed, oxygen-rich blood back into the patient's body.
Types of ECMO
There are two main configurations of ECMO:
- Veno-Venous (VV) ECMO: Provides support primarily for the lungs. It draws blood from a vein and returns it to a vein, allowing the lungs time to rest and heal.
- Veno-Arterial (VA) ECMO: Provides support for both the heart and lungs. It draws blood from a vein and returns it to an artery, assisting with blood circulation throughout the body.
ECMO does not cure heart or lung disease itself; instead, it acts as a temporary bridge, giving the organs time to recover or allowing doctors time to evaluate long-term options.