ECMO
External lung machine
ECMO stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a life-support technique that pumps blood outside the body through an artificial lung, adding oxygen and removing carbon dioxide before returning it to the patient.
It's used when the heart or lungs are too damaged to function on their own: She was on ECMO for two weeks after the cardiac arrest.
The technology gained wider public awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic as a last resort for severe respiratory failure.
Thin medical insertion tube
- oxygenatorGas-exchange medical device
- tubingHollow cylindrical conduit
- blood flowMovement through vessels
- cannulationInserting tube into body
femoral · jugular · decannulation · priming · anticoagulation · heparin · clotting · hemolysis
Adding breathable gas
- respiratory failureInadequate lung gas exchange
- gas exchangeTransfer of respiratory molecules
- ventilationCirculation of fresh air
- pneumoniaInfected, inflamed lung tissue
oxygenator · membrane · oxygen saturation · carbon dioxide removal · pulmonary embolism · lung transplant · COVID · H1N1
Concerning heart and lungs
- myocarditisCardiac muscle inflammation
- heart failureInadequate blood pumping condition
- coronaryOf heart arteries
- bypassRoute that skirts obstacles
perfusion · cardiac arrest · heart transplant · cardiomyopathy · infarction · cardiac surgery · refractory · left ventricle
Specialized treatment for severe illness
- critical illnessPotentially fatal health condition
- bedsideNear the mattress
- multidisciplinaryInvolving several academic fields
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
monitoring · vasopressors · nursing · weaning · mobilization · rehabilitation · tracheostomy · complications
cannula
Thin medical insertion tube
- oxygenatorGas-exchange medical device
- tubingHollow cylindrical conduit
- blood flowMovement through vessels
cannulation · femoral · jugular · decannulation · priming · anticoagulation · heparin · clotting · hemolysis · air embolism
oxygenation
Adding breathable gas
- respiratory failureInadequate lung gas exchange
- gas exchangeTransfer of respiratory molecules
- ventilationCirculation of fresh air
pneumonia · oxygenator · membrane · oxygen saturation · carbon dioxide removal · pulmonary embolism · lung transplant · COVID · H1N1 · influenza
cardiopulmonary
Concerning heart and lungs
- myocarditisCardiac muscle inflammation
- heart failureInadequate blood pumping condition
- coronaryOf heart arteries
bypass · perfusion · cardiac arrest · heart transplant · cardiomyopathy · infarction · cardiac surgery · refractory · left ventricle · right ventricle
intensive care
Specialized treatment for severe illness
- critical illnessPotentially fatal health condition
- bedsideNear the mattress
- multidisciplinaryInvolving several academic fields
sedation · monitoring · vasopressors · nursing · weaning · mobilization · rehabilitation · tracheostomy · complications · bleeding
- ICUventilators, ventilator, critical care, crash carts, life support
- cardiac devicespacemaker, defibrillator, heart monitor, ECG, EKG machine
- heart surgeryheart surgery, open heart surgery, bypass surgery, heart transplant, valve replacement
- Perfusionheart-lung machine, cardiopulmonary bypass, blood pump, priming, cannulation
- emergency rescue911, CPR, ambulance, paramedic, paramedics
- survivalsurvival, survive, endure, persist, last
ECMOnasal cannula
Nostril oxygen delivery device
watchful waiting · supplemental oxygen · supportive care · palliative care · basic life support
Ceasing medical treatment intentionally
palliative care · comfort care · hospice · do not resuscitate · DNR