Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
When a child鈥檚 lungs or heart aren鈥檛 working, our 正澳门六合彩开奖记录 team can use a technology that gives these organs a chance to rest and heal. Called 鈥渆xtracorporeal membrane oxygenation鈥 (鈥淓CMO,鈥 for short), it鈥檚 a machine that temporarily takes over for the heart, lungs or both by pumping blood and delivering oxygen throughout the body.
鈥淓xtracorporeal鈥 means treatment that takes place outside the body. 鈥淢embrane鈥 means a type of artificial lung. 鈥淥xygenation鈥 means supplying oxygen to the blood. At Nemours, our ECMO teams combine a mastery of this technology with support services to help families navigate a challenging time.
Learn more about Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) at the
When a child鈥檚 lungs or heart aren鈥檛 working, our 正澳门六合彩开奖记录 team can use a technology that gives these organs a chance to rest and heal. Called 鈥渆xtracorporeal membrane oxygenation鈥 (鈥淓CMO,鈥 for short), it鈥檚 a machine that temporarily takes over for the heart, lungs or both by pumping blood and delivering oxygen throughout the body.
鈥淓xtracorporeal鈥 means treatment that takes place outside the body. 鈥淢embrane鈥 means a type of artificial lung. 鈥淥xygenation鈥 means supplying oxygen to the blood. At Nemours, our ECMO teams combine a mastery of this technology with support services to help families navigate a challenging time.
Learn more about Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) at the
Our ECMO Care
Depending on a child鈥檚 needs, we may use one of two ECMO treatments:
- Venoarterial (VA) ECMO. This is when both the heart and lungs need to rest. This type of ECMO pumps blood and breathes for a child.
- Venovenous (VV) ECMO. This is when the heart is working, but the lungs need time to rest. This type of ECMO doesn鈥檛 pump blood.
Our ECMO care team members may include:
- Attending physician/surgeon 鈥 the doctor in charge of your child鈥檚 care
- ECMO coordinator 鈥 the manager of the ECMO department who acts as an extra resource for the care team
- ECMO physician 鈥 a doctor who specializes in ECMO treatment
- ECMO specialist 鈥 a nurse, respiratory therapist or perfusionist who鈥檚 specially trained to monitor the machine
- 笔别谤蹿耻蝉颈辞苍颈蝉迟听鈥 a specialist with advanced training in heart-lung machines and ECMO
- Respiratory therapist 鈥 a specialist in ventilators (breathing machines) and lung care
- Nurse 鈥 a pediatric nurse who cares for your child in the hospital
- Nurse practitioner 鈥 a nurse with advanced training and education who provides care under the guidance of the attending physician/surgeon
- Social worker 鈥 a professional who helps families cope
Conditions We Treat
ECMO (also known as extracorporeal life support or 鈥淓CLS鈥) treats serious problems of the heart and/or lungs. The most common conditions that may require treatment with an ECMO machine include:
Why Choose Us
Our care is about more than an ECMO machine. It鈥檚 a team of nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists and more with experience using this proven, life-saving technology and supporting your family along the way.
Regional ECMO Highlights
Services, programs and care teams differ at each location. Call for details.
Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia
We offer full-service ECMO care at Nemours Children鈥檚 Hospital, Delaware (Wilmington, Del.).
- The state鈥檚 only neonatal (newborn) ECMO center
- The only children鈥檚 hospital in the region to offer ECMO transport 鈥 a mobile version of ECMO, which allows us to extend our reach to children hundreds of miles away
- Gold Level Award for Excellence in Life Support from the international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO)
- Only the second children鈥檚 hospital in the country designated an Accredited Heart Failure Institute
- Doctors and nurses visiting from as far away as Brazil and Korea to train on our simulators and bring ECMO to their own hospitals
Central Florida
We offer ECMO care at聽Nemours Children鈥檚 Hospital, Florida (Orlando).
- Full-service care聽for children with rare and complex heart conditions
- Large care team that visits with you each morning to discuss the care plan for that day
- Kid-friendly imaging when the ECMO team needs to take a picture of a child鈥檚 heart or lungs