When fragile hearts falter and every breath matters, ECMO becomes a lifeline for critically ill patients.
The ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) machine is an advanced form of life support which takes the pressure off patients’ bodies and giving them the crucial space they need to start to heal.
Our supporters have made it possible for us to purchase a new ECMO machine for the Mater Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.
This advanced piece of medical equipment is used when all other life-saving measures fail. It is typically used in emergencies — for patients with severe heart failure, life-threatening infections, or trauma. When moments matter most, the ECMO machine is there, quietly and powerfully working behind the scenes to keep someone’s loved one alive.
The ECMO machine takes over the function of the heart and lungs by oxygenating and pumping blood around the body and removing carbon dioxide. This is essential when a patient’s heart or lungs have stopped functioning normally and it literally saves lives. It is no exaggeration to say that patients who require ECMO treatment are some of the most vulnerable in the hospital.
Every year, extremely ill patients receive this treatment, giving them a chance to begin to heal and recover under the watchful eye of highly trained ICU team members.
Watch this short video featuring ICU Consultant Dr Ian Conrick-Martin, who shares how vital ECMO technology is for critically ill patients in the Mater, as well as the vital role of the highly trained ICU staff who care for them 24-hours a day.