Vijayawada, 3rd May, 2025: In critical health emergencies, when ventilators and medications fall short, advanced interventions like ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) become vital. Now, Manipal Hospital Vijayawada has introduced ECMO services, offering a powerful life-saving option and strengthening access to world-class critical care in the region.
What is ECMO?
ECMO is an advanced artificial heart-lung machine that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs, allowing these organs to rest and heal. It is used for patients suffering from severe lung or heart failure, when conventional treatments no longer suffice.
Highlighting its importance, Dr. Srinivas Rao T, Consultant – ICU and Critical Care, said, “ECMO has proven to be a life-saving intervention for patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), severe pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and in critical cases following cardiac surgery. Looking ahead, ECMO is expected to play a crucial role in normothermic regional perfusion — a technique used to preserve organs prior to harvesting for organ transplantation. In this evolving field, Hybrid ECMO is emerging as a promising innovation, combining the benefits of various ECMO modalities to optimize organ preservation and support advanced critical care.”
How does ECMO work?
Explaining its mechanism, Dr. V Dinesh Kumar Gontla, Consultant – Critical Care, shared, “ECMO has two major parts – the oxygenator and the pump. While the oxygenator emulates the lungs’ blood-purifying functions, the pump is responsible for the heart’s pumping action. With these dual functions, the ECMO acts either as ‘A bridge to recovery’ in patients recovering from acute respiratory or cardiac failure conditions, and ‘A bridge to transplant’ in patients with advanced respiratory or cardiac failure who are undergoing lung or heart transplant.”
There are two types of ECMO:
- VV-ECMO (Veno-Venous): Supports only the lungs, ideal for conditions like ARDS, severe pneumonia, or COVID-19 complications.
- VA-ECMO (Veno-Arterial): Supports both the heart and lungs, used in cardiac arrest, severe heart attacks, or major heart failures.
Precision and Expertise Required
While ECMO may sound simple, its execution is highly complex. Dr. Srinivas Rao emphasized the need for a skilled, multidisciplinary team comprising cardiac surgeons, intensivists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, perfusionists, and specially trained ICU nurses and technicians.
Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, with its state-of-the-art infrastructure and specialized team, is committed to providing this advanced critical care service, giving critically ill patients a stronger chance at survival and recovery.
