Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
ECMO is an advanced type of life support that can help if your heart and/or lungs are too sick to function.
What is ECMO?
ECMO stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The word "extracorporeal" means "outside of the body," which is where most of this process takes place. The rest of the name refers to getting oxygen to cells within your body.
The ECMO machine does this by continuously passing blood outside the body to a device that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide. The device then returns the newly oxygenated blood to the body.
It’s a powerful tool that can allow the heart and/or lungs to rest and heal while doctors treat the illness or injury making you sick.
For a few qualified patients, ECMO can also be a bridge to transplant or a long-term mechanical support device.
Types of ECMO
There are two types of ECMO:
- Veno-Veno (V-V) ECMO, which only supports the lungs. The heart is still responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. The ECMO machine replaces the function of the lungs by providing oxygen and removing carbon dioxide.
- Veno-Arterial (V-A) ECMO, which supports both the heart and the lungs. It provides lung support by oxygenating the blood and removing carbon dioxide. It provides heart support by pumping oxygenated blood throughout the body.
Your doctor will decide which one you need.
From Our Health Library
ECMO Care at Hawaiʻi Pacific Health
At Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, we have expertise in:
- Neonatal and pediatric ECMO at Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children
- Adult ECMO at Straub Benioff Medical Center
Our specialized doctors, nurses, and perfusionists are experts in the technology used during ECMO care. We provide patients with minute-to-minute bedside care and support.
ECMO Care for Children
The Neonatal and Pediatric ECMO Program at Kapiʻolani provides 24/7, state-of-the-art care for newborns and children who need advanced lung and heart support.
Our care team will update you on your child's status and progress with daily updates from all members of your child's team. This includes:
- Critical care physicians
- Pharmacists
- Surgeons
- Respiratory therapists
- Nurses
We'll help you understand and participate in every decision that needs to be made, from nutrition to the length of your child's EMCO treatment. In fact, we invite parents to join our daily rounds as valuable members of the patient care team.
Sometimes, children on ECMO support may require medical care or services that are only available on the mainland. Our Critical Care Transport Team helps get critically ill children to mainland referral hospitals that offer the advanced care they need. Kapiʻolani is the only medical center in Hawaiʻi to provide advanced pediatric ECMO transport.
Seeing your child experience a critical illness or injury can be overpowering for any parent. We understand the uncertainties you and your child are facing during this extremely stressful time. Rest assured, our experienced team will be with you to offer guidance and support every step of the way.
ECMO Care for Adults
The ECMO Program at Straub Benioff Medical Center provides 24/7, state-of-the-art care for adults who need advanced lung and heart support.
Seeing your loved one experience a critical illness can be overwhelming, and we understand the uncertainties you and your loved one are facing. Rest assured, our experienced team will be with you to offer guidance and support every step of the way.
If a patient at another facility is a potential ECMO candidate, we may offer transport to Straub Benioff. In certain cases, a patient may be too unstable to transfer without ECMO support. If so, the Straub Benioff Mobile ECMO Team can mobilize and initiate ECMO at other facilities. This is followed by stabilization and transfer to Straub Benioff on ECMO support.
Sometimes, patients on ECMO support may require medical care or services that are only available on the mainland. The Straub Benioff ECMO team is experienced in coordinating transfers to mainland referral hospitals that offer the advanced care they need.