neonatal ECMO

Neonatal ECMO, or Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, is a life-saving medical treatment for critically ill newborns whose lungs or heart are not functioning properly. It acts like an artificial heart-lung machine, taking over the baby's heart and lung functions. Blood is drawn from the body, oxygen is added, carbon dioxide is removed, and then the blood is returned. This allows the baby's organs to rest and heal while providing essential oxygen. ECMO is typically used for conditions like severe respiratory failure or congenital heart defects and is performed in specialized neonatal intensive care units.