- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a way we can support either a failing heart or a failing lung. Emergency Life Support involving ECMO is termed Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS)
- Venous blood is removed from the body through a tube placed in a large blood vessel. The blood then passes through a pump and an “oxygenator” which delivers oxygen to the blood before the blood is returned to the body
What is VA ECMO? What is VV ECMO?
- The acutely failing heart is supported by removing blood from a large Vein (V) and returning it to a large Artery (A). This is called VA ECMO.
- The Golden Jubilee National Hospital (GJNH) is the Advanced Heart Failure Centre for Scotland providing VA ECMO.
- The acutely failing lung is supported by removing blood from large Vein(V) and returning blood to a large Vein (V). This is called VV ECMO. Internationally VV ECMO use has increased markedly over the Pandemic.
- Scotland’s National VV ECMO Centre is in Aberdeen.
