PCCSF Offers ECMO Support for Critically Ill Patients
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a form of temporary mechanical circulatory support that can be used to stabilize a patient with heart and/or lung failure. ECMO can be used in newborn infants, older children and adults. In general, ECMO is indicated for reversible lung or heart failure when there is a greater risk of dying from the primary illness despite maximal conventional treatment.
PCCSF recently used ECMO to save the life of a 17-year-old Loxahatchee girl who became critically ill from influenza.
ECMO involves the use of a blood pump to circulate the blood when the heart is failing. Blood is circulated through an artificial lung to remove carbon dioxide and pick up oxygen when the lungs are failing. Large catheters are inserted into an artery and vein in the neck or groin to drain and return the blood to the patient. In some cases, the catheters are placed directly within the heart after the chest is opened. Heparin, a blood thinner, is given to the patient to prevent clotting of the blood in the circuitry of the blood tubing.
Illnesses and situations where ECMO is used include infections of the heart (myocarditis), severe pneumonia, newborns born with high blood pressure in their lungs, and poor heart function after open-heart surgery. Risks associate with this form of mechanical heart lung support include, bleeding, infection and other organ failure.
PCCSF is committed to utilizing the latest in approved medical technologies in order to provide optimal care for our patients. For more information on how PCCSF is using ECMO please contact us at info@pccsf.com.
