ECMO

ECMO Critical Care

The extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program at Albany Medical Center is the largest one in the Capital Region.

ECMO became familiar to many people during the Covid-19 pandemic when it was critical for so many patients who had failed on ventilators. This most advanced life support therapy is currently used regularly to help critically ill and injured patients with heart and lung failure recover. It is often used for patients recovering from heart surgery, or as a bridge to further treatment.

This bypass machine is used on a temporary basis over weeks or months by doing the work of the heart and lungs. Not all patients survive and the procedure has side effects.

How It Works

Lung failure is traditionally treated by using a ventilator. Ventilators use positive pressure to push air into the lungs and facilitate gas exchange, thus removing carbon dioxide and providing more oxygen to the patient. Ventilators are a vital treatment tool, but in some very sick or injured patients, the increase in pressure can strain the lungs.

When ventilation and all other treatments have failed, ECMO is the last line of treatment. ECMO requires surgery for placement. ECMO allows the lungs and heart to rest by using a machine to oxygenate blood outside the body.

With ECMO, blood bypasses the heart and lungs, allowing the organs to rest and heal.

The Specialists You Need

ECMO is a complicated and highly specialized procedure that requires an ECMO team, including specially trained physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and more. This team is available at Albany Medical Center.

Our medical specialists also train residents and fellows on the use of ECMO.