In what cases is the ECMO device used

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How is ECMO different from mechanical ventilation?
As UCSF Health writes, the method of extracorporeal oxygenation is fundamentally different from mechanical ventilation. The thing is that ECMO affects the blood directly, without affecting the organs. Moreover, patients can be connected to the extracorporeal oxygenation device for a long time. And immediately after connection, a person does not need food, due to the fact that all vitamins and nutrients are supplied intravenously - through a catheter.

Ventilators are designed to deliver a mixture of oxygen and compressed air to the lungs. Thanks to ventilators, the lungs are saturated with oxygen and carbon dioxide is removed. Patients are connected through an endotracheal tube, which is inserted into the respiratory tract, but there is also a connection through a mask.

Ventilators save many lives, but their number is severely limited israel number data worldwide. But there are tens of times fewer ECMO machines than ventilators. And the cost of ECMO is many times higher.

Another important difference between ECMO and mechanical ventilation is that it is a surgical procedure, which is most often performed in the patient’s room. The patient is given sedatives and painkillers, and anticoagulants are prescribed to minimize blood clotting. The surgeon and operating room team insert the ECMO catheters into either an artery or a vein. An X-ray is then taken to make sure the tubes are in the right place. Once the machine is connected, the patient will be fed either intravenously or through a nasopharyngeal tube.

During ECMO, patients are also given certain medications, including: heparin to prevent blood clots; antibiotics to prevent infection; sedatives to minimize movement and improve sleep, etc. To disconnect the patient from the machine and remove the tubes, a surgical procedure is required. Before stopping ECMO therapy, several tests are usually performed to confirm that the heart and lungs are ready to work independently. Then — this time in the operating room — the doctor places small stitches to protect the tube attachment site. However, even if the patient is disconnected from ECMO, he may still need mechanical ventilation.