ECMO

ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, is a medical treatment that temporarily takes over the work of a person's lungs and sometimes their heart. It involves circulating blood outside the body through a machine that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, then returns the blood to the patient. This support helps the lungs and heart rest and heal during severe illness or injury, such as respiratory failure or cardiac failure. ECMO is usually used when other treatments haven't been effective, serving as a critical lifeline until the patient's organs can function properly on their own.