Anesthesiologists Drive Expanded Use of ECMO
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, was initially developed as an extension of cardiopulmonary bypass to replace the function of the heart and lungs by pumping and oxygenating a patient's blood outside the body. The procedure, once only able to be used for hours or days at a time, can now support patients for months uninterrupted, offering a bridge to recovery or further treatment that will save a patient's life.