Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a special therapy for children with respiratory and/or heart disease who do not respond to other forms of medical treatment. ECMO is not a cure for the underlying cause of cardiac or respiratory failure and is designed to provide temporary support when all other forms of treatment fail.

With ECMO, blood from a vein is pumped through an artificial lung where oxygen is added and carbon dioxide is removed. The blood is then returned back to the child through a vein or artery. This is done continuously over a period of time, allowing for your child’s heart and lungs to “rest” and heal.

Any Phoenix Children’s patient with respiratory and/or heart failure that meets standardized criteria is considered an ECMO candidate. Common diagnoses that may require ECMO include: