ByZarafshan Shiraz, New Delhi

A variety of sufferers had been placed on Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) throughout coronavirus pandemic as nearly all of them had lung points therefore, the Covid-19 sufferers whose lungs had been severely broken needed to be placed on air flow assist which was insufficient for them because the functioning of the lungs was compromised. Such sufferers got the assist of ECMO by which the blood is pumped outdoors the physique with the assistance of a heart-lung machine that's integrated into an ECMO machine and removes carbon dioxide from the physique and offers oxygenated blood again to the tissues within the physique.

How ECMO works?

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Aklesh Tandekar, Head Consultant Critical Care at Wockhardt Hospitals on Mira Road, defined, “The blood is drawn from the right side of the heart to the membrane and oxygenated in the ECMO machine which is known as a heart-lung machine. In this machine, the filter which is called an oxygen membrane or oxygenator purifies the blood and supplies the purified blood to the entire body. Here, the lungs and heart can be bypassed so that these organs can take some rest and these machines help the organs to recover quickly.”

He revealed that ECMO is often utilized in intensive care set-ups which can be known as as crucial care set-ups the place the center and lungs should not working effectively ( for example- in sufferers with Acute respiratory misery syndrome (ARDS) and coronary heart illnesses. Dr Aklesh Tandekar elaborated, “These machines are a boon to such patients. It is also used for patients to recover from heart failure or waiting for a heart transplant or even a lung transplant. ECMO machines are a bridge to transplantation. Till these patients receive stable organs from the donor, the ECMO machines will continue giving rest to the heart and lungs. Apart from that, even patients with other conditions such as heart attack, severe myocardial infarction, hypothermia, pulmonary embolism, trauma, sepsis, prevent post-transplant complications, Defect in the diaphragm (congenital diaphragmatic hernia), cardiogenic shock and ones with a bacterial and viral infection and Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium) where the heart pumping is reduced can get advantage from these machines.”

How to arrange for ECMO?

According to Dr Aklesh Tandekar, the physician will determine should you want ECMO or not and put cannulas within the measurement vessels of the physique relying upon how lengthy you have to be on ECMO assist and it may be taken off it when the affected person recovers. Some may have ECMO companies for simply 3-4 days whereas some could require for even months till they get better however these companies allow healthcare consultants to take the utmost care of the sufferers and assist the organs to heal.