ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) is a type of life support machine. If a very severe & potentially fatal illness strikes the heart or lungs, thereby rendering them incapable of normal functioning, ECMO comes to their rescue.
Why do Hospitals use ECMO?
ECMO comes to the aid of patients whose
- Lungs are unable to supply the required oxygen to the body even after the medics are giving it extra oxygen
- Lungs are unable to eliminate the carbon dioxide even with assistance from a mechanical ventilator
- The heart is unable to pump the required blood to the body
The medics connect the ECMO machine to the patient’s body via plastic tubes. The machine pumps out the blood from the patient’s body to an artificial lung. This lung then oxygenates the blood & also eliminates carbon dioxide. Then, it sends this fresh blood back to the patient’s body, just like the heart does. Thus, it acts as a replacement for both the heart & the lungs.
ECMO acts as a stress-buster for the lungs & heart for some days, thus speeding up the healing process. ECMO works best for those patients who need emergency treatment for their survival & who, without ECMO, won’t stand a chance of survival.
However, the medics have to be constantly on guard against possible risks from infections, clots & over-thinning of the patient’s blood that might turn fatal.
ECMO is a complicated & risky mechanism. That’s why it is used as a last resort for heart & lung patients and for those who are suffering from the onset of pneumonia or sepsis or major congenital deficiencies (for newborns).
ECMO Therapy in India
ECMO therapy cost in India is still fairly high, not less than Rs 30-40 lakhs for the entire procedure. However, it’s still a fraction of the cost that the patient would incur abroad. Some of the top hospitals in India like Max Hospital, Apollo Hospitals, Medanta – The Medicity, etc. offer ECMO therapy. So, the comparatively manageable ECMO therapy cost in India brings in patients from several countries.
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