Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

ECMO is a highly specialized therapy within cardiovascular and critical care medicine that provides temporary support for patients whose heart and/or lungs are failing. This advanced life support technology uses a circuit outside the body to oxygenate blood and remove carbon dioxide, allowing the heart and lungs time to rest and heal. ECMO is typically managed by a multidisciplinary team that includes intensivists, interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, perfusionists, ECMO specialists, critical care nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and physical and occupational therapists all working together to closely monitor and adjust the treatment.

Patients who require ECMO are often among the most critically ill. They may suffer from severe respiratory failure, such as ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), massive pulmonary embolism, or life-threatening pneumonia, or they may have profound cardiac failure from conditions like massive heart attacks, myocarditis, or cardiogenic shock after cardiac surgery. ECMO is also used as a bridge to transplant or to more durable devices in patients with end-stage heart or lung disease. By taking over the work of the heart and lungs, ECMO buys precious time for other treatments to take effect or for organs to recover.

At Mercy Health St. Rita’s, our ECMO program stands out for its integrated, team-based approach and commitment to patient safety and quality outcomes. We utilize state-of-the-art equipment, including the Medtronic VitalFlow ECMO system, and follow rigorous protocols aligned with ELSO (Extracorporeal Life Support Organization) guidelines. Our dedicated ECMO specialists undergo extensive training and competency validation to ensure expert bedside management. In addition, we conduct regular simulations and multidisciplinary reviews to continually refine our processes, offering patients and their families a level of care that is both cutting-edge and deeply compassionate. Further, we partner with heart-lung transplant centers in an effort to continually progress the patient’s care should they need such therapies.