Treatment

Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

In 1984, Children’s National Hospital became the first children's hospital to offer Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). This critical program provides newborns, children and adults with respiratory or cardiac failure minute-to-minute bedside support from physicians and experts who specialize in the complex technology used during ECMO care.

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Frequently Asked Questions

About pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

ECMO is a modified form of heart and lung bypass used on a temporary basis and an alternative to conventional methods of life support. Large catheters are placed into patient’s blood vessels, which drain blood from the body into the ECMO machine. The ECMO then functions for the patient’s heart and lungs, providing blood pressure support and oxygen. This allows the heart and lungs to rest and gives the body time to repair itself until ECMO support is no longer needed.

An example of the value of ECMO is the improved survival rate as high at 95% for infants with meconium aspiration syndrome, a somewhat rare but potentially serious condition. Our newborn ECMO patients recover in Children’s National's Neonatal Neurology and Neonatal Neurocritical Care Program.

Applicable conditions for ECMO

Children’s National's ECMO program is one of the largest in the nation and recognized as an “ECMO Center of Excellence” by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization.

Members of Children's National's ECMO team conduct active research into therapies for respiratory distress, working to improve outcomes for all patients. Children’s National also offers a national and international training program to instruct other providers in the use of ECMO, and our specialists host a major international scientific conference on ECMO care every year.

Applicable conditions:

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Persistent pulmonary hypertension
Pneumonia
Sepsis

Meet the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Program Providers

View our specialists

Patient Stories

Saving Emilee's Life
Emilee was born in 1985 and rushed to Children's National Hospital. Inspired by the care and the technology that saved her life, she grew up to be a pediatrician herself.

Emilee's Story
How ECMO helped Emilee not only survive, but thrive.
Ashley's Story
Between her premature birth and her medical issues including her critical HLHS heart condition, her parents, Ana Mercedes and Axel Vela, were told that Ashley was unlikely to survive.
Helping Alfie Thrive
Alfie was born with life-threatening sepsis following possible meconium aspiration. Care in our top-ranked neonatal intensive care unit haelped save his life.

Departments that Offer Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)

Advanced Cardiac Therapies and Heart Transplant Program

We provide personalized care for babies and children with heart failure, including advanced VAD techniques and heart transplantation.

Neonatology

Whether your infant has arrived prematurely or has a critical illness, the Children's National Hospital's top-ranked team assists in coordinating every service you and your baby need, including consultations, assessments, emergency treatments and continuing care.

Neonatal Neurology and Neonatal Neurocritical Care Program

The Neonatal Neurology and Neurocritical Care Program at Children's National is the only one of its kind in the mid-Atlantic region and a leader in advancing neurologic care to some of our most critically ill newborns.

Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

Our Cardiac ICU, a modern, 34,000 square foot space with 26 beds and private rooms, has advanced heart technology, including ventricular assist devices (VADs).

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