ECMO

Specialists at Ascension Seton in Central Texas, deliver advanced care for adults with heart failure using ECMO.

Care for heart and lung failure with ECMO

Specialists at Ascension Seton in Central Texas, deliver advanced care for adults with heart failure using ECMO.

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Why choose us

The extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program and experienced care teams at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin provide advanced care for patients who have life-threatening lung and heart conditions, including severe heart and respiratory failure, and who are critically ill.

Understanding ECMO

This advanced technology is used to temporarily provide respiratory support and blood circulation– allowing your lungs and heart to rest while they are recovering from illness or injury. ECMO may also be used while you are waiting for a heart or lung transplant. This machine maintains blood flow and oxygen to vital organs, like the brain, kidneys and liver.

ECMO is used when:

Your heart can’t pump blood to all the parts of your body
Your lungs cannot provide enough oxygen to the body, even when given extra oxygen
Your lungs cannot get rid of carbon dioxide, even with help from a mechanical ventilator
You are waiting for a ventricular assist device (heart pump) or heart or lung transplant

A surgeon places one or more plastic tubes, called a cannula, into large blood vessels in your chest, neck or groin. The ECMO pump circulates your blood through the machine’s artificial lung or oxygenator. Carbon dioxide is removed from the blood and oxygen is added. As oxygenated blood leaves the oxygenator, it is warmed before returning to your body.

A member of your care team is with you 24/7 to monitor your machine and provide care. Your doctor uses blood tests, X-rays and other tests to make sure you are responding well to your treatment.

There are two types of ECMO support:

Venoarterial ECMO (VA ECMO) is used when the heart and lungs need support. The blood leaves the body from a vein, receives oxygen and is returned through an artery. This allows your heart and lungs to rest and recover.
Venovenous ECMO (VV ECMO) is used for lung support when the heart is still working well. The blood leaves the body from a vein, receives oxygen and is returned through the same vein or another vein. This allows the lungs to rest and recover.

Reasons you might need ECMO

Our ECMO-trained specialists deliver advanced care for complex heart and lung conditions, including:

Cardiac failure
Cardiac arrest
Cardiogenic shock following heart surgery
Drug overdose
Heart attack
End-stage heart failure (as a bridge to heart transplant, LVAD, or total artificial heart)
Ongoing life-threatening arrhythmias
Myocarditis
Sepsis or stress-induced heart failure
Valvular disorders with cardiogenic shock

Respiratory failure

Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Bacterial or viral pneumonia
Lung rupture (pneumothorax)
Pulmonary embolism
Status asthmaticus

How to get care

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Early consultation with the ECMO care team can help physicians know when to refer patients to an ECMO program. A transfer may be recommended for patients who have received appropriate medical management and meet criteria for ECMO. For patient transfers, call the Ascension Seton Transfer Center at 512-324-3515.