ECMO treatment program

If your child is having trouble breathing on their own due to heart or lung disease, they might benefit from extra support.

An extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides support for the heart and lungs when those organs are so severely diseased or damaged that they no longer work on their own.

What is extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)?

Similar to a heart lung bypass machine used in the operating room for open heart surgery, ECMO is a special machine that functions as a temporary heart and/or lung.

ECMO doesn’t cure the underlying disease, but allows time for the heart and lungs to rest until they have healed and can work on their own. The length of time that a child is on ECMO varies depending on the type of disease.

Who could use ECMO?

Typically, ECMO is used for children with severe but reversible heart or lung disorders who haven’t responded to medical management. These conditions may include:

• Congenital heart disease (before or after cardiac surgery)
• Heart failure
• Severe pulmonary hypertension
• Meconium aspiration
• Respiratory failure from trauma or infection
• Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
• Sepsis

There are significant risks with ECMO, which may make it inappropriate for some children. We’ll screen your child to determine if ECMO treatment is appropriate.

How does ECMO treatment work?

During the procedure, a pediatric cardiac surgeon places a tube called cannula inside large blood vessels. Blood then flows from the body to the ECMO machine, where oxygen is added and carbon dioxide is removed. The blood is then rewarmed and pumped back into the body.

Typically cannulas are placed on the right side of the neck, but it could be placed in the groin if the child is older or directly into the heart if the child had recent cardiac surgery.

We’ll monitor your child to ensure the machine is functioning properly and take blood samples to make any necessary adjustments. We’ll also give your child sedation and medication to ease any discomfort.

Your child will be sleeping most of the time, but hearing your voice and knowing you’re there can be very soothing. You also can read a story or play music. Although you won’t be able to hold your child while on ECMO, holding their hand can be reassuring.

Once their heart and/or lungs have healed enough, ECMO support will be discontinued. Your child will continue to be on a ventilator and supported within the intensive care unit for several days or weeks until further improvement takes place.

Why choose Advocate Children’s Hospital for ECMO?

The Advocate Children’s Hospital ECMO Program has received the Gold Level Center of Excellence Award from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. This award recognizes those centers that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes and quality measures, staff training and continuing education, patient satisfaction and ongoing clinical care.

In addition, our program is the only program in Illinois that provides ECMO transport, allowing transfer of patients on ECMO who would otherwise be considered too sick to be transferred.

To request an ECMO transport evaluation, contact the Advocate Children’s Hospital Transport Center at 630-387-6720.

Meet our ECMO team.