The Caribbean Heart Institute is proud to announce the availability and advanced use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). This cutting-edge life-support system provides critical care for patients whose hearts or lungs are too weak to function on their own. ECMO has become one of the most powerful tools in modern medicine, offering a second chance at life for patients facing severe respiratory or cardiac failure.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is taking blood out of the body and putting oxygen in it outside of the body (the function of the lungs) and then putting it into your body (the function of the heart). The system functions as a temporary artificial heart and lung, constantly pumping blood from the patient’s body via a specific machine that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, simulating the function of healthy lungs. The oxygen-rich blood is then returned to the patient, giving the heart and lungs much-needed time to rest and heal.
“ECMO doesn’t replace healing; it buys time for healing,” said Dr. Gary Stephens, Chief Executive Officer at the Caribbean Heart Institute. “It bridges patients through the most critical phase of illness, when traditional treatments like ventilators or medications alone aren’t enough.” CHI is the only one in the English speaking Caribbean region with this portable machine. Additionally, in its 40 years history, the New York Marathon had a team on standby with the machine in case it was needed.
The extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) procedure involves several crucial steps that help patients whose hearts and lungs cannot function properly on their own. First, flexible plastic tubes called cannulas are delicately put into prominent blood vessels to extract blood from the body. The blood is subsequently channeled through an oxygenator, often called an artificial lung, which removes carbon dioxide while replenishing oxygen. Once oxygenated, the blood is returned to the patient’s body to ensure crucial circulation and organ function. Throughout the process, a specialist ECMO team, composed of critical care physicians, perfusionists, and nurses, continuously monitors and adjusts blood flow, oxygen levels, and temperature to ensure the patient receives the best possible care.
ECMO is typically reserved for patients facing life-threatening conditions when all other conventional treatments have failed. It is commonly employed in cases of severe pneumonia or COVID-19 when mechanical ventilation cannot adequately maintain oxygen levels. Additionally, ECMO may be used during cardiac arrest or heart failure when the heart is unable to pump blood effectively. The therapy also supports patients recovering from major heart or lung surgeries and can be lifesaving for newborns and children with reversible heart or lung defects.
However, ECMO is not a cure. It’s a bridge to get better, or for some people, it’s a bridge to more advanced therapies such as heart or lung transplantation. Owing to its complexity, ECMO can be performed only in specialized centers with sophisticated technology and skilled multidisciplinary teams.
The Caribbean Heart Institute is among the few centers established to deliver ECMO effectively and safely. The ECMO program, which unites experts in cardiology, pulmonology, surgery, intensive care, and perfusion technology, provides 24/7 care.
“ECMO represents the pinnacle of critical care medicine,” said Dr. Gary Stephens, Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Heart Institute. “Our investment in ECMO reflects our mission to provide the highest level of care and the best possible outcomes for our patients and their families.”
The Caribbean Heart Institute is a leading center for advanced critical care, offering state-of-the-art facilities, expert medical staff, and a commitment to innovation in patient treatment. Through technologies like ECMO, the Caribbean Heart Institute continues to set new standards in life-saving care and compassionate medicine.
