ECMO stands for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, it is a machine that is used in open heart surgery. ECMO is the last option for critically ill patients. ECMO is such a treatment that apart from providing oxygen to the whole body, it also provides enough time for the lungs and heart to heal. When a patient is connected to an ECMO machine, blood is pumped through tubes to an artificial lung in the machine that adds oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide.
ECMO is used in critical situations, in a way this treatment gives the lungs and heart time to rest. It is used in many diseases and it was also used in covid-19. It helps in providing oxygen to the body when the organs of the patient stop working.
There are two types of ECMO.
Venoarterial ECMO:In this ventrolateral ECMO, blood is diverted from a large vein and is returned in a large volume. Which oxygenated blood circulates in the patient’s body. In this, drains are applied in the neck and waist.
Venovenous ECMOVenovenos ECMO is only used to support the lungs. Which works adequately to meet the needs of the body of the patient. In this, two tubes are placed in places near or inside the heart.
When is ECMO treatment used?
- Inability of the heart to pump enough blood to the body.
- ECMO treatment is used for patients recovering from heart failure, lung failure, or heart surgery.
- For support during high risk procedures in the cardiac catheterization lab.
- Many patients have difficulty breathing due to health complications caused by the disease, for which it is necessary to use ECMO.
How is ECMO used?
ECMO is used for a patient when all other options to supply oxygen to the body are exhausted. The ECMO machine is connected to the patient through a set of plastic tubes. Using this the blood is pumped into the oxygenator. It provides proper support to the lungs and heart.
Best Hospitals for ECMO treatment in Kolkata.
- Apollo Glenegals, Kolkata
- Amri Hospital Salt Lake, Salt Lake, Kolkata
- CK Birla Hospital, Kolkata
- Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Science, Kolkata
If you want to get treated in any of these hospitals, you can contact us on WhatsApp (+91 9654030724).
How much does ECMO treatment cost?
Most of the cost of treatment depends on the hospital in which it is done. But it is used only in private hospitals. Before ECMO treatment, the doctor will check the patient’s health only after that he will take a decision. If you want to know the exact cost of ECMO treatment, then you can consult a doctor for this.
How is ECMO removed from the patient’s body?
The patient is systematically weaned off ECMO. Doctors recommend gradually reducing the oxygen support provided by ECMO to observe the stability and health of the patient. If the patient responds positively, he is taken off ECMO
during ECMO
While connected to ECMO, the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels and carbon dioxide levels are very well taken care of. The patient is initially sedated, once the patient is connected to ECMO, after that the patient does not feel any pain and some medicines are also given to make the patient comfortable. It simply supports the heart and lungs. The patient remains on ECMO for a few days to several weeks. In some cases, patients seriously do not recover despite ECMO. But ECMO improves survival of patients in most cases.
What are the risk factors of ECMO?
ECMO is the last option to save the patient, many risk factors also come in it, such as –
- Due to this, there is a possibility of infection to another person, because blood is also given to many patients due to this.
- There are chances of infection in the part where the tube is inserted to oxygenate.
- In some cases, the chances of stroke also increase in patients.
If you have any problem related to this and if you want to get its solution then you can contact us. To contact us on our whatsapp number (+919654030724) Or email us at [email protected].
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