ECMO Therapy

Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital provides extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) – a complex therapy involving a pump that circulates blood through an artificial lung before returning it to the bloodstream of a very ill baby. Essentially, this system provides heart-lung bypass support outside of the baby’s body.

Why and When is ECMO Used?

ECMO is used in infants who are extremely ill due to breathing or heart problems. The purpose of ECMO is to provide adequate oxygen to the baby while allowing time for the baby’s lungs and heart to rest or heal.

The most common conditions that may require ECMO today are congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), severe pulmonary hypertension, cardiac malformations, pneumonia and severe air leak problems. It may also be used during the recovery period after pediatric heart surgery.

How Is a Baby Placed on ECMO?

Putting a baby on ECMO therapy requires a large team of caregivers to stabilize the baby as well as the careful setup and “priming” of the ECMO pump with fluid and blood. Surgery is also performed to attach the ECMO pump to the baby via catheters placed within the large blood vessels in the baby’s neck.

What are the Risks of ECMO?

First, because babies who are considered for ECMO are by definition very ill, they are at high risk for long-term problems, including death. In addition to the already high-risk situation, once the baby is placed on ECMO, additional risks include infection, bleeding, blood clot formation and transfusion problems. Rarely, the pump can have mechanical problems that can adversely affect the baby as well.