INTEGRIS Health is the first in the state to establish a specialized life support program solely devoted to adult patients facing imminent death caused by heart or respiratory failure. Our ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) experts provide life-saving care with a heart-lung machine for people whose serious illnesses prevent their hearts and lungs from working properly. ECMO may be used for patients waiting for heart or lung transplants, recovering from illness or preparing for high-risk surgery.
ECMO Hotline: 844-436-ECMO (3266) |
| Our ECMO team is available 24/7 For provider consultation, please call 844-436-3266 |
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides both cardiac and respiratory support to patients whose heart and/or lungs are so severely diseased or damaged that they can no longer serve their function, perhaps after a heart attack, cardiac surgery, pulmonary embolism, near drowning, or lung-related issues such as flu or pneumonia.
Veno-Veno ECMO
Veno-arterial ECMO
ECMO can be performed at the patient's bedside. This lifesaving support provided to the sickest of the sick in cardiogenic shock, severe respiratory failure or a combination of both can be initiated via rapid peripheral cannulation VA-ECMO (veno-arterial) or VV-ECMO (veno-venous).
ECMO provides both cardiac and respiratory support to patients whose heart and/or lungs are so severely diseased or damaged that they can no longer serve their function, perhaps after a heart attack, cardiac surgery, pulmonary embolism, near drowning, or lung-related issues such as flu or pneumonia.
The therapy continually pumps blood from the patient via a tube inserted into the groin vessels or neck vein. The blood goes through a membrane oxygenator that imitates the gas exchange process of the lung, removing carbon dioxide and adding oxygen, before returning the blood to the patient.
The goal is to allow the heart or lungs to rest and recover while the machine does all the work. When the heart or the lungs have healed and can work on their own, the lifesaving support from the ECMO artificial heart/lung machine is gradually removed.
The ECMO technology itself is not new. It is traditionally used to support underdeveloped hearts and lungs in premature babies. However, medical adaptations and advancements have led to increased adult usage and Aly El Banayosy, M.D. believes the therapy will ultimately change the way hospitals care for patients near death from catastrophic heart and lung events.
Our ECMO specialists are immediately available 24/7. For consultation via our ECMO HOTLINE: 844-436-ECMO (3266)
Learn more about INTEGRIS Advanced Cardiac Care, watch patient videos and interviews with our surgeons and staff on our Heart Failure Channel.
