Advanced Support for Critical Conditions
From sudden, emergent situations like cardiac arrest to a severely declining chronic heart condition, some circumstances can only be addressed with drastic, life-saving measures. At Baptist Health, our medical team can turn to Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, or ECMO, in such critical situations.
The ECMO procedure, a sophisticated life-support technique, provides crucial temporary assistance to patients whose heart and lungs are severely compromised and unable to function adequately on their own.
Leading the Way with ECMO
Years ago, Baptist Health made the decision to invest in the equipment, facilities and staff to offer the ECMO procedure – along with an entire program to provide transport for ECMO patients all over the state and skilled care to patients. Our dedicated team of specialists is committed to providing the highest quality care to critically ill patients requiring ECMO support, and is equipped to travel all over the state to provide this life-saving treatment. Baptist Health serves as a vital resource for the state of Arkansas, delivering advanced critical interventions to those in need.
What is an ECMO procedure?
ECMO is a treatment that takes over heart and/or lung function of a patient in critical condition. By allowing these vital organs to rest, the patient is able to regain some strength in order to receive subsequent procedures, therapies and treatments.
The ECMO procedure is not a permanent solution. It is a temporary, last resort measure taken to stabilize a patient and help the heart and lungs recuperate. If recovery does not occur, the ECMO support can continue if there are long-term treatment options available.
Though life-saving, the ECMO procedure doesn’t come without risks. Patients may experience internal bleeding, blood clots, infections, neurological issues such as stroke, or poor blood flow. Constant monitoring is required.
For these reasons, Baptist Health only places a patient on ECMO in the most critical circumstances. Despite these risks, ECMO remains a vital tool in critical care medicine, offering a lifeline to patients in dire circumstances and providing them with a fighting chance at recovery.
When is ECMO Used?
The ECMO procedure is reserved for patients who do not respond to standard critical care interventions. By temporarily taking over the function of the heart and lungs, ECMO provides crucial support to allow the body time to heal.
The conditions ECMO may be used for include, but are not limited to:
- Severe pneumonia or ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)
- Heart failure or cardiac arrest
- Pulmonary embolism
- Post-surgical complications or shock
- Trauma
- Sepsis
- COVID-19
- Pneumonia
- Hypothermia
- Birth defects of the heart
While ECMO can be a necessary intervention, it is not a cure for any of these conditions. As stated above, ECMO allows the patient to recover enough in order to benefit from further treatment. Ultimately, ECMO is a bridge from critical condition to a lasting solution, whether that be patient recovery or transition to an advanced therapy such as heart transplant surgery or an LVAD.
At Baptist Health, our providers are expertly trained to assess each patient’s unique situation to determine if the ECMO procedure is an appropriate measure.
What to Expect During the ECMO Procedure
This cutting-edge treatment begins with connecting the patient to the ECMO machine. So, what is an ECMO machine? The ECMO machine is a piece of equipment connected to the patient through cannulas that are peripherally inserted into large arteries and veins in the legs, chest or neck. The ECMO machine then draws blood out of the body, oxygenates the blood, removes carbon dioxide from the blood, and pumps the blood back into the circulatory system.
Once the ECMO procedure is done, the patient is kept as comfortable and calm as possible through sedatives and pain medication. The patient will also be continuously monitored through visual inspection of the circuit, chest X-rays and blood tests to evaluate lung function, heart function, and carbon dioxide levels. Providers will also check for infections while a patient is on ECMO.
Because the ECMO procedure is only used in unique critical care circumstances, it is managed in a specialized Intensive Care Unit. With a low patient-to-provider ratio, the ECMO ICU is built for patients who require attentive, hands-on care around the clock. The needs of a patient who’s had an ECMO procedure can change in an instant, and there is no one better prepared to address every obstacle than the ECMO ICU staff.
ECMO at Baptist Health
ECMO is an integral part of our commitment to offering state-of-the-art care for the state of Arkansas. In fact, Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock was awarded the Extracorporeal Life Support Designation Silver Level Award, recognizing our significant contribution to delivering life-saving heart care using the ECMO procedure. We also offer the state’s only ECMO transport, ensuring that your location doesn’t stand in the way of critical patients receiving the care they need.
With the ECMO procedure, Baptist Health provides comprehensive care for each patient’s individual needs and potential complications. With an excellent success rate, we’re prepared for the unexpected and are ready to handle every critical situation with both expertise and compassion.
An ECMO Success Story: Lynn Keller
Shortly before his daughter, Cori Keller, was set to compete in Miss Arkansas, Lynn underwent emergency triple bypass surgery, and he experienced complications from his procedure. Thankfully, he was at an ECMO hospital – Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock.
As his condition worsened, ICU providers performed the ECMO procedure, and Lynn remained on the machine over the next few days. Slowly, his body began to stabilize and he was weaned off the ECMO… just in time to be greeted by his daughter Cori, the newly crowned Miss Arkansas.
Immediately after the pageant ended, Cori rushed – in her gown, crown and sash – to see her father. The moment they embraced began a new journey for them both as heart health advocates. A little over a year later, the two even traveled to Washington, D.C. for the HEARTS Act on behalf of the American Heart Association.
Other than championing heart health education, Lynn spends his time doing the things he’s always loved, including exercising, serving his community, and spending his fall Friday nights as the voice of the Stuttgart Ricebirds.
Find a Specialist at Baptist Health
While we hope our patients will never need an ECMO procedure, our ECMO specialists are prepared around the clock for the most critical situations. Learn more about The Baptist Health Heart Failure & Transplant Institute’s commitment to offering you comprehensive, advanced care for every circumstance. You can also learn more about the providers who are available for every step of your heart health journey.
If you or a loved one have a heart condition or simply want to learn more about how you can invest in your heart health, find a specialist today. Our team is always available to provide personalized, compassionate care to help your heart stay healthy.