ECLS (Extracorporeal Life Support)

Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS), also known as ECMO, is a medical technology that temporarily takes over the function of a patient's lungs and/or heart. Blood is drawn from the body, cleaned and oxygenated outside the body via a machine, then returned to support vital organ function. It’s used in critically ill patients when these organs are unable to perform adequately on their own, providing time for recovery or as a bridge to more definitive treatment. ECLS is typically employed in intensive care settings and requires specialized equipment and expertise.