Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
Extracorporeal life support (also known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, ECMO) is cardiopulmonary bypass pumping done for prolonged periods of time at a child's bedside. Cardiopulmonary bypass was originally developed to allow surgery on the pediatric heart during "open heart surgery." However, we have been able to adapt the technology to support children who suffer pulmonary failure from a large variety of causes.
Children with overwhelming pneumonias, those born with severe congenital anomalies such as diaphragmatic hernia with pulmonary hypoplasia, or children who have heart failure following cardiac surgery may be candidates for ECMO support. In all of these children, ECMO circulates a child's blood so that oxygen can be supplied to the body and gaseous wastes removed, allowing time for healing for a child's damaged lungs.
These highly complex procedures are done in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children's Memorial. Staff members in the Division of Pediatric General Surgery, as well as a host of other supporting services, provide consultation. Full parental consent is sought prior to the initiation of the ECMO procedure, which generally lasts from several days to as long as three to four weeks.
Pediatric surgeons are available to families to keep them fully informed of a child's progress when undergoing this innovative but technologically demanding support. Ancillary care services and surgery are provided as necessary, and pediatric surgery maintains long-term follow-up services for all of the children who have undergone ECMO.
The hospital receives "Excellence in Life Support" award from ELSO
In 2010, Children’s Memorial Hospital was named a recipient of the internationally recognized Extracorporeal Life Support Organization’s “Excellence in Life Support” award. ELSO is an international consortium of health care professionals and scientists who are dedicated to the development and evaluation of novel therapies for support of failing organ systems, such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Hospitals designated as “Centers of Excellence” with this award demonstrate a commitment to exceptional patient care, specialized equipment and supplies, defined patient protocols, advanced education of all staff members, and high quality standards.