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Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
In intensive care medicine, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
(ECMO) is a technique of providing oxygen to patients whose lungs
are so severely diseased that they can no longer serve their function.
An ECMO machine is similar to a heart-lung machine.
To initiate ECMO, cannulas are placed in large blood vessels to
provide access to the patient's blood. Anticoagulant drugs (usually
heparin) are given to prevent blood clotting. The ECMO machine continuously
pumps blood from the patient through a "membrane oxygenator"
that imitates the gas exchange process of the lungs, i.e. it removes
carbon dioxide and adds oxygen. Oxygenated blood is then returned
to the patient.
ECMO can provide sufficient oxygenation for several
days or even weeks, allowing diseased lungs to heal while the potential
additional injury of aggressive mechanical ventilation is avoided.
It may therefore be life-saving for some patients. However, due
to the high technical demands, cost, and risk of complications (such
as bleeding under anticoagulant medication), ECMO is usually only
considered as a last resort therapy.
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