Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a technique that replaces the functions of failing lungs and/or the heart.
People with life-threatening but reversible heart or lung illnesses who have not responded to standard treatments may be candidates for ECMO. For example, ECMO may be used for severe lung damage from infection or shock after a massive heart attack. ECMO also can be used to support a failing heart after heart surgery. ECMO can provide support for days to weeks while doctors treat the underlying illness.
Extracorporeal means that the blood circulates outside of the body through a tube or catheter with the help of a machine. Membrane oxygenation, referred to as the “artificial lungs,” is a special part of the machine that puts oxygen into the blood and takes out carbon dioxide, just like the lungs do. ECMO also is known as extracorporeal life support (ECLS), and the ECMO machine often is referred to as a type of heart-lung machine.
During ECMO treatment, the heart continues to beat, but its work is made easier because the ECMO machine does much of the pumping. The goal of ECMO is to ensure that the body has enough blood flow and oxygen by temporarily managing the workload of the heart and lungs. ECMO provides time for the body to rest and recover, but it will not directly heal the heart or lungs.
ECMO was initially developed and used for babies in critical condition whose lungs were not functioning, but it is now being used more for adults. According to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), more than 100,000 patients have been on ECMO over the past several decades.
The two most common types of ECMO are veno-arterial ECMO (VA ECMO) and veno-venous ECMO (VV ECMO). The ECMO team will decide which type will help the patient the most, based on his/her specific illness.
The VA ECMO machine is connected to both a vein and an artery and is used when there are problems with the heart and lungs. The cardiothoracic surgeon will insert two cannulae in large vessels on the side of the neck, directly into the chest (while the chest is covered with a sterile protector), or into the groin vessels.
One cannula is placed in a large vein to remove un-oxygenated blood from the body; the other is placed in a large artery, allowing oxygen-rich blood to circulate or pump through the organs and other body tissues. This method allows the blood to “bypass” the heart and lungs, allowing them to rest and get better. VA ECMO is like the heart-lung machine used during heart surgeries, but it can be used for longer periods of time. It’s important to know that the heart will continue to beat while on VA ECMO, but its work is made easier because the ECMO machine does much of the pumping.
Read about VV ECMO.
Who needs ECMO?
ECMO is used for infants, children, and adult patients who have illnesses in the heart or lungs and who are not able to supply oxygen to their own bodies. It is important to understand that anyone who needs ECMO is critically ill.
Patients’ lungs fail for a number of reasons, including pneumonia, lung cancer, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When the lungs fail, the patient will first be intubated (breathing tube) and hooked up to a ventilator (breathing machine). However, sometimes lungs are so damaged that providing oxygen through intubation is not enough. This is usually when doctors determine that VV ECMO is necessary. A heart can fail for many reasons, including heart attack, pulmonary embolism, bad valve disease, or worsening heart failure. When a heart weakens, doctors try to fix the underlying problem, sometimes with medications to help improve the pumping function of the heart. If medications do not work, doctors will use VA ECMO.
ECMO is used to help babies with medical challenges, such as:
- Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery)
- Respiratory distress syndrome (difficulty breathing)
- Meconium aspiration syndrome (inhalation of waste products)
- Sepsis or infection
- Severe pneumonia
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (a hole in the diaphragm)
- Congenital heart disease/postoperative shock lung
- Respiratory failure
- Cardiac arrest
ECMO also is used for older children suffering from postoperative cardiac repair, trauma and other emergencies, pneumonia, asthma, congenital heart defects, and aspiration of toxic materials into the lungs (lighter fluid, turpentine).
In adults, ECMO may be indicated for:
- Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)
- Heart or lung failure, including heart failure after heart surgery
- A bridge to lung transplantation or a heart assist device, such as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
- Pneumonia
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Some serious forms of influenza
- Other breathing failure from trauma or infections
ECMO team
While on ECMO, the patient will be monitored constantly and very closely by an ECMO team that consists of specially trained professionals devoted to his/her care. The team may include:
Cardiothoracic surgeon – places the cannulas needed for ECMO
ECMO physician – directs ECMO treatment from start to finish
Interventional cardiologist – also performs ECMO placement
Vascular surgeon – removes the cannulas needed for ECMO
Perfusionist – has specialized training and certification in running the ECMO machine
ECMO coordinator – prepares the ECMO machine and tubing and troubleshoots any problems
ECMO specialist – manages the ECMO circuit and its effect on the patient
ICU nurse – monitors the patient, administers medications, and provides the patient with any other care he/she may need
Respiratory therapist – provides breathing treatments and helps manage the breathing machine
Other team members who may be involved include a dietitian, physical therapist, social worker, and chaplain, as well as a kidney doctor and nurses.
Daily monitoring
The ECMO team will take daily x-rays to make sure the tubes are in the right place and to see if the patient’s lungs are looking better. Blood samples also are tested for improvements. In addition, the team will keep an eye on the heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen levels, and blood pressure.
The ECMO physician may want to perform a bronchoscopy to look inside the lungs and see how they are healing. This procedure involves threading a small, flexible bronchoscope tube, with its light and small camera, through the nose or mouth, down the throat into the trachea, or windpipe, and through the airways in each lung, checking for problems. In addition, it is likely that the patient will have regular neurologic exams to ensure that he/she is receiving enough oxygen delivery to the brain. The arms and legs also will be examined to make sure oxygen is traveling to all four limbs and that there have been no complications.
While on ECMO, the breathing tube and ventilator will keep the lungs working and help remove secretions, while medications will transfer continuously through intravenous catheters. The patient may receive certain medications, such as:
- Heparin to prevent blood clots
- Antibiotics to prevent infections
- Sedatives to minimize movement and improve sleep
- Diuretics to help the kidneys get rid of fluids
- Electrolytes to maintain the proper balance of salts and sugars
- Blood transfusions to replace blood loss
How does the team know if the patient is getting better on ECMO?
If the ECMO team thinks that the patient may be improving, they may decrease some of the medications supporting the heart and lungs, or turn down the pump flow. This allows the team to determine whether the heart and lungs can do more of the work on their own. The function of the heart and lungs are measured by blood samples, chest x-rays, chest movement, and echocardiogram.
If the test results look good, the ECMO team will discuss removing ECMO, often called a “trial off.” The ECMO team will decrease support and/or take away ECMO for minutes or hours to see if the patient needs to stay on ECMO. If the trial shows that he/she needs more time on ECMO, the patient will be put back on support. If during this time, he/she remains stable, ECMO can be discontinued.
If the patient is ready to come off ECMO, the cardiothoracic surgeon will remove the cannulae. If the cannulae were placed through the skin without a large incision, they will be taken out like an IV with firm pressure. If the cannulae were surgically placed (through an open incision), they will be surgically removed and the vessel will be repaired with small stitches. This can be done either at the bedside or in the operating room. The patient will be asleep and monitored during this process.
The breathing tube and ventilator may still be needed, but will be decreased as the patient improves over time. A physical therapist and rehabilitation specialist will work with him/her to regain strength. It is a slow process, but the patient can expect to get stronger each day.
The patient can stay on ECMO anywhere from 3 days to a month. The longer he/she remains on ECMO, the higher the risk of complications.
What are the risks of ECMO?
While ECMO can be potentially life-saving, there are risks and complications associated with its use. The ECMO team will discuss these details with the patient and/or the caregivers before placing the patient on ECMO. The ECMO specialist and ICU nurse are specially trained to handle any problems that happen with the ECMO machine. In addition, it is possible that the patient may need to temporarily come off the ECMO machine in order to fix a problem. During this time, he/she will receive the necessary support. In most cases, the ECMO machine can be repaired or replaced and ECMO support restarted.
The most common complication is bleeding. While heparin, an anticoagulant medication, reduces the formation of clots within the ECMO machine, it also reduces the patient’s ability to clot. As a result, he/she is at increased risk for bleeding at the surgical sites, internal bleeding, and bleeding in the brain. The ECMO team will run labs often and will carefully adjust the amount of heparin. Ultrasounds also may be used to look for bleeding, in addition to the ECMO team watching very carefully for changes in how the patient acts and his/her ability to do certain things like squeezing a hand or wiggling the toes.
Whenever a large tube is inserted in veins or arteries, there is an increased risk of surgical complications, stroke, and infection (especially at the sites where the cannulae are placed). In addition, small blood clots and air bubbles can sometimes appear inside the ECMO tubing. The ECMO team will conduct many tests to help them recognize any of these problems.
Other complications include:
- Transfusion-related infections (the patient may receive transfusions of blood and other blood products)
- Technical failure or malfunction of the ECMO machine
If any problems occur, the ECMO team will speak with the patient and/or the caregiver in an effort to fix the issue as soon as possible and to decrease further risks.
It is important for a patient to talk to his/her family members and doctors about what he/she would like to happen in different situations. The more clearly the patient explains his/her choices to loved ones and health care providers, the better they will be able to follow the patient’s wishes if he/she is unable to make decisions for him/herself.
Reviewed by: Amy E. Hackmann, MD, and Muhammad Faraz Masood, MD
December 2018
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