WHAT IS ECMO?
ECMO is a machine that supports the heart and lungs, by blood passing through tubes , placed in the neck. The blood goes into a plastic bladder and is pumpe throgh a membrane oxygenator, which fuctions as a lung. It removes carbon dioxide and puts oxygen in th blood. The blood is then heated to normal blood temps. and pumped back int the body. While on ECMO the heart and lungs are given time to rest.
HOW LONG CAN YOU BE ON ECMO?
The normal cycle is 10 days, however if the condition of the circute is good they can run it longer
WHO IS ABLE TO BE PUT ON ECMO?
Only patiants with severe but reversable lung or cardiac disease.
