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Care for heart and lung failure with ECMO

Specialists at Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis deliver advanced care for children and adults with heart and lung failure using ECMO.
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The ECMO program and experienced care teams at Ascension St. Vincent in Indianapolis deliver advanced care for patients who have life-threatening lung and heart conditions, including severe heart and respiratory failure, and who are critically ill. And at Ascension St. Vincent, we provide care for more hearts than any other health system in Indiana. You have an entire team dedicated to your heart care. Your doctor may recommend extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy for you or a loved one when other therapies are not working. ECMO allows your lungs and heart to rest while they’re recovering from illness or injury. ECMO may also be used for patients waiting for a heart or lung transplant. This therapy maintains blood flow and oxygen to vital organs, like the brain, kidneys and liver. 

Heart care teams specializing in ECMO

At Ascension St. Vincent, our ECMO-trained specialists deliver advanced care for complex heart and lung conditions. Your ECMO care team may include cardiovascular surgeons, intensive care doctors, intensive care nurses, respiratory therapists, hospitalists, perfusionists, and more, caring for:

  • Acute respiratory distress syndrome
  • Bacterial pneumonia or viral infection
  • Heart attack
  • Heart failure 
  • Lung failure
  • Post cardiotomy and cardiogenic shock
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Ruptured lung
  • Traumatic lung and heart injuries

Transfer your patient to an ECMO specialist

Early consultation with an ECMO specialist can help you know when to refer your patient to an ECMO program. Your patients can expect compassionate, personalized care from the moment our specialists connect with them. A transfer may be recommended for patients who have received appropriate medical management and meets one or more of the following:

  • SBP < 90mmHg or vasopressor support to maintain SBP > 90mmHg
  • Evidence of end-organ damage (UO < 30ml/hr or cool extremities)
  • Hemodynamic criteria: CI < 2.2 and PCWP > 15mmHg
  • PaO2:FiO2 < 80mmHg for > 6 hours
  • PaO2:FiO2 < 50mmHg for > 3 hours
  • pH < 7.25 with PaCO2 ≥ 60mmHg for > 6 hours

    • Our ECMO specialists start by listening to fully understand their needs and to develop an individualized care plan. For more information, please call 317-338-5000. 

    Frequently asked questions

    • How does ECMO work?

      A surgeon places one or more plastic tubes, called a cannula, into large veins 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.

    • What happens while on ECMO?

      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.

    • Are there different types of ECMO? 

      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.
    • Can you be awake on ECMO? 

      Yes. Depending on your health, your care team may choose to keep you awake while on ECMO support. This allows you to participate in occupational and physical therapy to help build your strength and speed your recovery. Your safety is our priority, so your care team will keep you awake only in some cases. 


    If you are experiencing chest pain, especially in combination with jaw or arm pain, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting or difficulty breathing, you might be having a heart attack. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.