Treatment Process For Our ECMO Patients
What to expect before, during, and after your treatment.
Before
Because of the serious nature of advanced heart or lung failure, our Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) patients are treated in our institute’s intensive care unit (ICU). A procedure is performed to connect the large veins and arteries in the legs, neck, or chest to an ECMO machine using plastic tubes.
How It Works
The ECMO machine pumps blood from the patient’s body to an artificial lung that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, replacing the function of the person’s own lungs. The ECMO machine then sends the blood back to the patient via a pump with the same force as the heart, replacing its function.
Most ECMO patients are also connected to a breathing machine called a ventilator through a tube placed in the mouth or nose that goes down into the windpipe.
The ECMO machine is controlled by a perfusionist, nurse, or respiratory therapist with advanced training called an ECMO specialist. The perfusionist or ECMO specialist will adjust the settings on the machine to provide the necessary amount of heart and lung support.
Careful Monitoring
Patients connected to an ECMO machine in the ICU are carefully monitored, including measurements of heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. Blood is also tested frequently to measure the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
Our care team uses these results to see how well the ECMO machine is helping the patient, and to make changes if needed. Meanwhile, our specialists are focusing on treating the underlying condition or planning for a transplant if no other option is available.
Timing of Treatment
How long you will stay on the ECMO machine depends on the nature of your condition and how your condition changes while on ECMO.
Before
Because of the serious nature of advanced heart or lung failure, our Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) patients are treated in our institute’s intensive care unit (ICU). A procedure is performed to connect the large veins and arteries in the legs, neck, or chest to an ECMO machine using plastic tubes.
How It Works
The ECMO machine pumps blood from the patient’s body to an artificial lung that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, replacing the function of the person’s own lungs. The ECMO machine then sends the blood back to the patient via a pump with the same force as the heart, replacing its function.
Most ECMO patients are also connected to a breathing machine called a ventilator through a tube placed in the mouth or nose that goes down into the windpipe.
The ECMO machine is controlled by a perfusionist, nurse, or respiratory therapist with advanced training called an ECMO specialist. The perfusionist or ECMO specialist will adjust the settings on the machine to provide the necessary amount of heart and lung support.
Careful Monitoring
Patients connected to an ECMO machine in the ICU are carefully monitored, including measurements of heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. Blood is also tested frequently to measure the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
Our care team uses these results to see how well the ECMO machine is helping the patient, and to make changes if needed. Meanwhile, our specialists are focusing on treating the underlying condition or planning for a transplant if no other option is available.
Timing of Treatment
How long you will stay on the ECMO machine depends on the nature of your condition and how your condition changes while on ECMO.
