Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an advanced treatment for patients with failing heart and lung function. Especially in cases of cardiorespiratory failure that do not respond to conventional treatment methods, ECMO can increase patients' chances of survival by supporting the function of vital organs. ECMO therapy is used in a wide range of patients from newborns to adults. In newborns, effective results can be obtained especially in cases such as respiratory distress, congenital heart diseases and meconium aspiration, while in adults, it is successfully applied in diseases such as severe cardiopulmonary failure, viral infections such as COVID-19 and severe pulmonary embolism. Over time, technological advances in ECMO devices and increased clinical experience have increased the effectiveness of the treatment and expanded its area of use. The effectiveness of ECMO depends on factors such as the general health status of the patient, the likelihood of response to treatment and the reversibility of the disease. Therefore, the success of ECMO therapy is directly related to correct patient selection and timely intervention. A multidisciplinary approach and the role of an expert ECMO team are crucial for the successful implementation of this treatment modality.
Aslan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.