What is ECMO?
ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) is the highest level of life support available for patients with severe heart or lung failure.
It temporarily takes over the work of the heart and/or lungs, allowing the body time to recover when conventional treatments are no longer enough.
ECMO does not treat the underlying disease. It creates time — time for recovery, time for interventions, and in many cases, time to survive.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a treatment used when someone's heart or lungs are failing. This advanced life support system acts as a temporary replacement for your heart and/or lungs when they can't get enough oxygen to your tissues.
ECMO doesn’t treat or cure a disease but rather buys critical time for your heart and lungs to rest and heal.
The process involves pumping blood from the body into the ECMO machine, which oxygenates the blood and then pumps it back into the body. The procedure requires a team of specialists, and it can be lifesaving for people with severe heart and lung conditions.
Who is a candidate for ECMO?
ECMO is considered for patients with life-threatening heart or lung failure who are not improving with standard therapies.
The decision to initiate ECMO is highly individualized and made by a specialized team, taking into account the patient’s condition, likelihood of recovery, and overall goals of care.
Doctors use ECMO to treat critically ill people. It's used for a variety of conditions including severe heart attacks, lung failure, hypothermia and sepsis. To be a candidate for ECMO, you must:
- Have severe heart or lung problems that are not improving with other treatments
- Have a condition that may get better with time and support
- Do not have medical conditions that would make ECMO unlikely to help
The decision to use ECMO is a complex one that’s made by a team of doctors. They will consider your individual circumstances and weigh the risks and benefits of ECMO before making a decision.
What to expect
ECMO care takes place in the intensive care unit and is managed by a dedicated, highly specialized team.
Blood is gently from the body through the ECMO circuit, where it is oxygenated and cleared of carbon dioxide, then returned to support the body’s needs.
As the heart and lungs begin to recover, ECMO support is gradually reduced. Throughout this process, patients are closely monitored by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in critical care, cardiology, surgery, and respiratory therapy.
Recovery can take time, and patients may experience fatigue, weakness, or discomfort at cannulation sites.
Because ECMO provides a very high level of life support, a multidisciplinary team of specialists will manage your ECMO care in the intensive care unit.
The ECMO machine pumps your blood from your heart and passes it through an oxygenator which adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. The oxygenated blood will then be pumped back into your heart. This process will give your heart and lungs a chance to rest and heal.
As your heart and lungs recover, our care team gradually tapers the ECMO treatment. In the intensive care unit, our team of specialists will closely watch over you as your heart and lung activity stabilize.
During recovery, you may experience some pain or discomfort at the sites where the ECMO cannulas were inserted. You may also feel tired or weak for some time.
Benefits of ECMO
ECMO offers a chance of survival when conventional therapies are no longer sufficient.
By temporarily supporting the heart and lungs, ECMO allows time for recovery, further treatment, or advanced decision-making in critical situations. Outcomes vary depending on the underlying condition, but for many patients, ECMO represents a bridge to recovery that would not otherwise be possible.
ECMO is the most advanced form of life support that can mean the difference between life and death when someone's heart or lungs are failing. Undergoing this procedure comes with many benefits, including:
- Improved survival rates: ECMO can significantly increase the chances of survival in cases of severe heart or lung failure. By providing temporary support for these organs, we're allowing the body time to heal and recover.
- Helps protect the body while healing: ECMO can support the heart and lungs, which may help limit further damage to organs while the body recovers—though it also carries its own risks.
- Return to normalcy: People who recover from ECMO often return to their prior quality of life, though it may take some time. They may be able to resume their usual activities, including work, school and social events over time once their body fully recovers.
