Heart surgery patient in hospital bed.

Advanced heart and lung care using ECMO in Michigan

Cardiothoracic specialists and care teams at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, provide ECMO to help your heart and lungs heal.
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The ECMO program and experienced care teams at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, deliver advanced care for patients who have life-threatening lung and heart conditions, including severe heart and respiratory failure, and who are critically ill. You have an entire team dedicated to your heart care. Your doctor may recommend extracorporeal 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. John, 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 failure 
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Traumatic lung and heart injuries 

Meet your ECMO specialists:

Frequently asked questions about ECMO

  • 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.
     
  • Can dialysis be added to ECMO therapy?
    A special machine can be added to ECMO to slowly remove fluid and clean the blood. This type of dialysis is called continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).
     
  • 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.
     
  • How is pain managed during ECMO? 
    Your care team may provide pain and sleep medication to help you rest and heal. You are monitored throughout the day and night, even while you are sleeping. Our goal is to help make you as comfortable as possible.
     
  • Can you move while on ECMO? 
    Your mobility may vary based on your condition. While on ECMO, walking or limited arm or leg movement may be possible. ECMO therapy is personalized for your needs.
     
  • Are blood clots a problem with ECMO?
    Your doctor and care team perform blood tests to identify early signs of clotting. Your care team also provides 24/7 care and monitors you for external bleeding.
     
  • How does ECMO help breathing?
    While on ECMO, a flexible plastic tube is placed through your mouth and into your windpipe. The tube is attached to a ventilating machine to help support breathing. Your care team may also change your body’s position to put less stress on your lungs.
     
  • How do you manage nutrition with ECMO?
    ECMO therapy delivers liquid nutrition through a dedicated catheter into a vein or through the nose. The liquid travels to your stomach and is digested and absorbed.
     
  • Will I need a urinary catheter?
    ECMO therapy may include a Foley catheter. A Foley catheter is inserted into your bladder to drain urine. Your care team measures your urine output to evaluate your overall health.
     

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.