Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving machine.
ECMO stands for “extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.”
People who need ECMO have a serious and life-threatening disease
that prevents their heart or lungs from working properly.
ECMO is used to save the lives of people who are very ill.
It takes over the work of the heart and lungs.
ECMO is like an artificial heart and lungs. It pumps blood and oxygenates the body.
ECMO is used for people of all ages, from newborns to adults. It can be used for short periods of time or for long periods.
ECMO is often used when other treatments have been tried but have not worked.
ECMO is not a cure. But this gives patients time to recover from their illness. It also gives doctors time to find a cure or do more treatments.