Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

Advanced Life Support Allows Lung & Heart Healing

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a machine that can give the heart, lungs — or both — time to heal after extreme trauma, organ failure or in preparation for major surgery. This advanced technology can do the job of the heart and lungs or just the lungs so the organs can heal. ECMO does not treat specific conditions but provides the valuable time necessary for the body to get better and for other essential treatments or surgeries. Sometimes, it is also used to support a patient in need of lung or heart transplant or before implanting a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center is one of a few locations in Georgia that provide ECMO advanced life support technology and expertise. Our ECMO-trained team includes:

Critical care intensivists
Interventional cardiologists
Advanced heart failure cardiologists
Electrophysiologists (cardiology)
ECMO nurse specialists
Perfusionists who oversee our ECMO specialist nurses
Respiratory therapists who take care of the breathing machine, or ventilator
Pulmonologists and cardiologists, who provide the continuum of care through recovery

For more information, download our Wellstar ECMO Patient Family Guide here.

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How ECMO works

An ECMO-trained physician inserts tubes — or cannulas — into specific blood vessels. These tubes remove blood from the body to flow through the ECMO machine where an oxygenator — also known as an artificial lung — removes the carbon dioxide in the blood, and oxygen is replenished before it pumps back into the body.

ECMO steps in as a patient’s heart and lungs while these vital organs recover. It can be used to support either organ or both, as required.

An ECMO-trained physician inserts tubes — or cannulas — into specific blood vessels. These tubes remove blood from the body to flow through the ECMO machine where an oxygenator — also known as an artificial lung — removes the carbon dioxide in the blood, and oxygen is replenished before it pumps back into the body. During this time, the heart and/or the lung are allowed to rest and recover. As they heal, these organs increasingly resume function and ECMO is weaned and discontinued.

Types of ECMO

Patients who require support only for their lungs will use VV ECMO, while those who need support for their heart go on VA ECMO.

VV ECMO takes blood from a large central vein and returns it to a large central vein.
VA ECMO takes blood from a large central vein and returns it to a large central artery. VA supports both the lungs and the heart.

How long will ECMO continue?

Some people stay on ECMO for just a few days. Others need it for several days or weeks. The time depends on the condition and the physician’s evaluation, determining when the heart and lungs are well enough to work independently.

Learn more about our highly skilled and compassionate critical care services at Wellstar.