The Role of the ECMO Engine on the Heart and Lungs
ECMO stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ECMO is a machine that functions to pump blood out of the body, then into an artificial lung for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. After that, the blood will flow back into the body. Keluarga
ECMO is useful for reducing the workload of the lungs, heart, or both. This device is often used in infants with critical conditions who need to be treated in the intensive care unit (NICU) or who are waiting to get a donor before undergoing a heart or lung transplant.
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This tool is usually chosen when other life support tools do not provide the desired results. Keluarga Bahagia
Conditions that require an ECMO engine
Although generally for babies, anyone might need an ECMO machine. There are three main conditions that make a person need the help of an ECMO engine to live, namely:
- The lungs cannot provide enough oxygen to the body even though they are fitted with a breathing apparatus
- Lungs can’t expel carbon dioxide even though they’re on a ventilator
- The heart cannot pump enough blood throughout the body.
- The three conditions above, can occur due to other respiratory and heart conditions or diseases.
The following are some of the diseases and conditions that make a person need to receive assistance from an ECMO machine to survive, among others:
- Heart muscle disease
- Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
- Severe infection (sepsis)
- Post-transplant complications
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Blockage in the blood vessels of the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- The baby inhales a harmful substance in the uterus called meconium (meconium aspiration)
- Breathing failure
- Covid-19 virus infection
- Accident
How the ECMO engine works
The ECMO machine is connected to the patient using a special tube called a cannula. This tube is inserted through a vein in the groin, neck, or chest. Kehidupan keluarga harmonis
After the tube is attached, the device will start working by pumping blood out of the body into an artificial lung, which is known as an oxygenator. This tool has the same function as the lungs, namely taking oxygen carried by the blood and removing carbon dioxide.
Blood that has been filtered by artificial lungs is then sent back to the body using a pump whose function is similar to the heart, so it can replace the work of the original organ.
The amount of blood pumped by the ECMO machine is controlled by specially trained medical personnel.
ECMO machine to replace the role of the lungs and heart
How long does it take for the ECMO engine to be installed?
According to the American Thoracic Society, the duration of using an ECMO machine is highly dependent on the health condition of the baby or the person using it. In principle, the team of doctors will immediately remove this machine as soon as the patient’s condition improves. Ibu dan anak
When the patient’s heart and lungs can return to work independently, the device can be removed.
Some babies only need to use ECMO for a few hours. However, some may take up to weeks. In some very severe cases, the patient cannot survive if the ECMO machine is removed.
The ECMO machine is a life support tool and not a tool to cure disease. Therefore, the duration of its use will depend on the process of treatment or healing of the disease that the patient is undergoing.
