Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, was initially developed as an extension of cardiopulmonary bypass to replace the function of the heart and lungs by pumping and oxygenating a patient's blood outside the body. The procedure, once only able to be used for hours or days at a time, can now support patients for months uninterrupted, offering a bridge to recovery or further treatment that will save a patient's life. Anesthesiologists are increasingly at the forefront of this evolving method of mechanical circulatory support, offering unique expertise that combines knowledge and skill.
“ECMO is a bridging therapy to recovery or a destination therapy such as an artificial heart or heart transplantation for patients in heart failure, or lung transplantation in patients with respiratory failure,” explained Stephanie Cha, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Critical Care Medicine and Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist, and Critically...
