Details of ECMO

In extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), blood is pumped outside of the heart to a heart-lung machine that decarbonates it and sends oxygenated blood back to the body. Blood is taken from the right side of the heart to the membrane oxygenator in the heart-lung machine, then it is rewarmed and sent back to the body.

• Heart attack
• Heart muscle disease
• Low body temperature
• Inflammation of the heart muscle
• Life-threatening response to infection
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome

• Stroke
• Bleeding
• Blood clot (thromboembolism)
• Blood clotting disorder (coagulopathy)
• Infection
• Loss of blood in hands, feet or legs (limb ischemia)
• Seizures