About the Treatment Method
ECMO Process and Life Support
ECMO alone is not a drug or treatment that cures the disease. ECMO is a "bridge" and life support unit that buys the patient's heart and lungs the time they need to heal (or wait in line for a transplant). The actual treatment is provided by time and other medical methods used.
Ventilators only pump pressurized air into the lungs, but if the lung is too damaged, it cannot pass this air into the blood. ECMO, on the other hand, takes the patient's blood out of the body, directly loads oxygen into the blood, cleans the carbon dioxide thanks to the artificial lung (membrane) inside the machine, and pumps the blood back into the body.
Depending on the patient's condition, it can vary from a few days to a few weeks (rarely months). When the organs begin to show sufficient function on their own, the machine support is gradually reduced and the patient is separated from the system (weaning).
The information on this page is for general health advice. Please consult specialized physicians for personalized treatment or advice.
