ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation)

Doctors use extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to support the heart and lungs in life-threatening situations. ECMO assists these organs so they can rest and heal. Our ECMO program makes it possible to receive this advanced mechanical circulatory support in Central Pennsylvania.

What Is Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation?

ECMO is a heart-lung machine that provides lifesaving support for people with serious heart and lung conditions. It is also known as extracorporeal life support (ECLS).

1. The machine pulls blood through a thin tube (cannula) into an artificial lung (oxygenator) outside of the body.
2. The artificial lung adds oxygen to the blood while removing carbon dioxide.
3. The ECMO machine warms the oxygenated blood and returns it to your body.

ECMO acts like a crutch for these organs, taking over most of their functions so they can recover. Doctors in our Advanced Heart Failure/LVAD Clinic can also use ECMO to support the heart and lungs as people wait for ventricular assist devices (VADs) or transplants.

ECMO Therapy: The Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Advantage

As the only hospital in Lancaster County offering ECMO, we give people across Central Pennsylvania fast access to this lifesaving treatment. People who need ECMO can remain in our community and don’t need to be transferred to another hospital. Our ECMO program also features:

• Experience: We are one of the highest-volume providers of ECMO therapy in Central Pennsylvania. Since 2016, we have used ECMO to help hundreds of people, including those with COVID-19, with great results. Our survival rates remain higher than the national average.
• Center of Excellence: The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) quickly recognized us as one the top hospitals for ECMO in the U.S. Our designation as a Silver Level Center shows that we’re among a select group of hospitals that deliver the highest performance, innovation, satisfaction and quality.
• Team-based care: When you come to us, you’re cared for by nationally and internationally recognized providers from The Heart Group of Lancaster General Health and Lancaster General Health Physicians Cardiothoracic Surgery. These groups include doctors with expertise in different areas of cardiovascular care, including mechanical circulatory support and heart failure. They oversee ECMO treatments together and regularly meet to discuss ways to improve care.

Conditions We Treat With ECMO

ECMO can help people with serious heart and lung conditions, including:

• Cardiogenic shock (when the heart suddenly can’t pump enough blood)
• COVID-19
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation)
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs)
• Respiratory failure

How Long Can a Person Be on an ECMO Machine?

ECMO can support the heart, lungs or both from days to weeks. Our ECMO team monitors patients around the clock to ensure a safe recovery. They determine the optimum length of time for your situation.

As the heart and lungs heal, they can reduce the level of support the ECMO machine provides. This reduction helps the heart and lungs slowly get back to full function.

Make an Appointment

To make an appointment at the Heart & Vascular Institute, call 717-544-8300.