We’ve talked a lot about what ECMO does on our website and in our blog section, but it can be a confusing concept all around, and almost everyone has more questions after reading about the basics. Wanting to know more about a medical procedure is perfectly reasonable, especially when facing life and death situations with our loved ones. Let’s tackle some of the most common questions surrounding Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation support.
Does ECMO hurt?
Generally no. Patients that undergo ECMO are typically already connected to a ventilator through a breathing tube down their mouth or nose and have received pain medications and sedatives. When they’re first connected to the machine, they are sedated and do not feel the tubes going into their veins and arteries. Routine monitoring equipment will be connected to the patient to monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. While on the machine, some medications can make patients sleepy, but some patients are awake and can interact with their physicians and loved ones while on ECMO. Because they’re hooked up to tubes, patients need careful help and assistance from medical staff when moving around.
How long do people stay on ECMO?
Usually, patients are supported by an ECMO machine for only a few hours to a few days, but it is possible to require support for a few weeks, depending on the severity of the condition and how it progresses over time. Physicians will always try to get people off ECMO as soon as humanly possible. Some diseases and illnesses can be treated swiftly and others cannot. Unfortunately, ECMO doesn’t save everyone, but it has greatly improved survival for thousands of critically ill people who don’t respond to typical life-saving treatments in the hospital.