World Heart Day: Role played by ECMO in critical care

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a machine that acts as an artificial heart and lung when these organs are not functioning well. It works by collecting a patient’s blood into an external machine, purifying and oxygenating it, and then pumping it back into the body. ECMO is commonly used in critical care settings for patients with conditions such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and heart ailments.