Dr K Madhan Kumar
Director – ECMO & VAD
Senior Consultant – Cardiothoracic & Transplant Surgeon
Kauvery Hospital, Chennai – Vadapalani
Kauvery Heart & Lung Care
ECMO Treatment in Chennai: Advanced Heart & Lung Life Support
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-support technique that takes over the work of a failing heart, lungs or both, giving the organ time to recover or until it can be replaced. Kauvery Hospital’s multidisciplinary ECMO team in Chennai has performed more than 370 ECMOs and specialises in awake ECMO, where suitable patients stay awake, communicate and take part in physiotherapy during treatment.
- 370+ECMOs performed
- Awake ECMOspecialists
- 24/7perfusionist cover
- Hybrid Cath Lab ORfor 360° care
- Dedicatedcardiac ICU & CCU
Understanding
What is ECMO?
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-supporting device, similar in principle to the heart-lung machine used in heart surgery. It is used when a person’s heart, lungs or both are failing and need help to keep the person alive until the affected organ recovers or is replaced.
ECMO is used in critical care settings such as the intensive care unit (ICU), where a team of specialists monitors the patient closely. It is a complex and powerful tool, often considered when other treatments have not worked.
Key takeaway
ECMO does the work of the lungs, the heart or both outside the body, so the organs can rest and heal while the underlying illness is treated.
The Process
How does ECMO work?
Blood is taken out of the body through a tube and passes into a machine that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, just as healthy lungs would. The machine then pumps the oxygen-rich blood back into the body, helping the brain and other organs keep working properly.
- 1
Blood leaves the body
Blood leaves the body through a tube placed in a large vein, usually near the groin or neck.
- 2
The machine acts as a lung
The ECMO machine acts as an artificial lung. Blood flows across a membrane that adds oxygen and filters out carbon dioxide.
- 3
Oxygen-rich blood returns
Oxygen-rich blood is returned to a vein (VV ECMO) or to a major artery (VA ECMO).
- 4
The organs rest and heal
The heart and lungs rest while doctors treat the underlying disease.
Indications
When is ECMO needed?
ECMO is started when all conventional treatment is failing to save a patient with severe lung failure, severe heart failure, or severe heart and lung failure. Results are better when ECMO is started before the kidneys, liver or other organs are affected, so early referral matters.
Lung conditions (VV ECMO)
- Severe pneumonia
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Poisoning
- Lung trauma
- COVID-19 complications
- Severe lung failure due to any other cause
Heart conditions (VA ECMO)
- Major heart attack
- Cardiac arrest
- Poisoning
- Severe heart failure due to any other cause
Other situations where ECMO is used
- Recovery from heart failure, lung failure or heart surgery
- Standby support during complex procedures in the cardiac catheterisation lab or the Hybrid Cath Lab Operating Room
- Support alongside a heart-assist device such as a left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
- As a bridge for patients waiting for a heart or lung transplant, helping maintain oxygen supply to tissues and potentially improving readiness for transplant
- Buying time to assess how well other organs, such as the kidneys or brain, are functioning before a heart or lung procedure
Two Main Types
Types of ECMO: VV and VA
There are two main types of ECMO. Which one is used depends on whether the lungs alone, or the heart and lungs, need support.
VV Venovenous (VV) ECMO: supports the lungs
- Blood is taken from a vein, oxygenated, and returned to a vein.
- The heart still pumps blood around the body.
- Used when the lungs are failing, for example in severe pneumonia, ARDS, poisoning, lung trauma, COVID-19 complications or any other cause of severe lung failure.
- Acts like an artificial lung but does not support the heart.
- Has fewer complications than VA ECMO.
VA Venoarterial (VA) ECMO: supports the heart and lungs
- Blood is taken from a large vein (usually near the groin or neck), oxygenated in the machine, and returned to a major artery.
- It bypasses both the heart and lungs, doing their work temporarily.
- Used when the heart is failing, for example after a major heart attack, cardiac arrest, poisoning or severe heart failure from any other cause.
- Acts like an artificial heart and lung.
| VV ECMO | VA ECMO | |
|---|---|---|
| Supports | Lungs only | Heart and lungs |
| Blood path | Vein → machine → vein | Vein → machine → artery |
| Role of the heart | Heart keeps pumping on its own | Machine bypasses heart and lungs temporarily |
| Typical conditions | Severe pneumonia, ARDS, poisoning, lung trauma, COVID-19 complications | Major heart attack, cardiac arrest, poisoning, severe heart failure |
| Complications | Fewer than VA ECMO | More than VV ECMO |
Is ECMO a cure?
No. ECMO is not a cure. It gives the affected organ rest so it can heal while doctors treat the underlying disease. Just as a dialysis machine does the work of the kidneys, ECMO does the work of the lungs, the heart or both.
Our Speciality
Awake ECMO at Kauvery Hospital
In suitable patients, ECMO can be delivered while the patient stays awake. Our team specialises in this approach. A patient on awake ECMO can:
- Be off the ventilator
- Communicate with family and the care team
- Eat normally
- Take part in physiotherapy during ECMO
This supports earlier recovery and discharge, and awake ECMO has shown better results than keeping patients sedated.
Book an Appointment
Is awake ECMO right for everyone?
No. Awake ECMO is used in appropriate patients. Your ECMO team will decide based on your condition.
Why Kauvery
Why choose Kauvery for ECMO in Chennai?
Proven experience
More than 370 ECMOs performed by our team across Kauvery Hospitals, with results on par with international standards.
Awake ECMO specialists
Early mobilisation and physiotherapy for suitable patients.
Multidisciplinary team
Interventional cardiologist, cardiac surgeon, vascular surgeon and perfusionist working together.
Internationally trained specialists
Our interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and vascular surgeons have international training.
360° infrastructure
State-of-the-art Hybrid Cath Lab Operating Room.
Close monitoring
Dedicated cardiac ICU and CCU.
Our Experts
Our ECMO team
Effective ECMO needs specialists from several departments working together to provide comprehensive care.
Interventional Cardiologist
Cardiac Surgeon
Vascular Surgeon
Perfusionist
Manages the ECMO machine round the clock.
Supported by critical care doctors, trained nurses, physiotherapists, and the laboratory and blood bank teams.
Safe ECMO
What does a hospital need to offer ECMO?
ECMO can be done safely only in hospitals that have:
- An ECMO machine
- A multidisciplinary team of doctors
- Round-the-clock perfusionists
- Trained nurses
- Trained physiotherapists
- Laboratory facilities
- A blood bank
Kauvery Hospital brings all of these together under one roof.
Referrals
ECMO patient transfer from another hospital
Yes, it is possible. ECMO can be started in any hospital, and the patient can then be moved to a hospital with the facilities above. Transfer can be done by road ambulance or air ambulance, within India and internationally.
Call our emergency line
The referring doctor calls our emergency line and shares the patient’s condition.
Case review
Our ECMO team reviews the case and advises on suitability for transfer.
Ambulance transfer
Road or air ambulance transfer is arranged.
Admission
The patient is admitted to our cardiac ICU for continued ECMO care.
Need an urgent ECMO consultation or transfer?
Call Now
Call 044 4000 6000 (24/7).
What happens during and after ECMO?
Once the failing heart or lungs recover with appropriate treatment, ECMO can be removed. Depending on how well the heart or lungs recover, patients can usually return to their normal routine after a brief period of rehabilitation.
Risks and complications of ECMO
Bleeding and infection are the two main complications of ECMO. VV ECMO generally has fewer complications than VA ECMO. Because of these risks, patients on ECMO are monitored closely in the ICU by a team of specialists.
FAQs
ECMO FAQs
ECMO stands for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. "Extracorporeal" means outside the body: the blood is oxygenated by a machine outside the body before it is returned.
A ventilator pushes air into the lungs and relies on the lungs to pass oxygen into the blood. ECMO adds oxygen to the blood outside the body, so severely damaged lungs (or a failing heart) can rest.
ECMO is started when conventional treatment is failing in a patient with severe lung failure, severe heart failure, or both. Results are better when it is started before the kidneys, liver or other organs are affected.
No. ECMO supports the heart and/or lungs so that they can rest and heal while doctors treat the underlying disease. It works much like a dialysis machine does for the kidneys.
VV (venovenous) ECMO supports the lungs only: blood is taken from a vein, oxygenated and returned to a vein. VA (venoarterial) ECMO supports both heart and lungs: blood is returned to a major artery. VV ECMO has fewer complications.
In suitable patients, ECMO is given while the patient stays awake and off the ventilator. Patients can talk to family, eat normally and do physiotherapy, which helps earlier discharge. Our team specialises in awake ECMO.
Bleeding and infection are the two main complications. Patients on ECMO are monitored closely in the ICU by a team of specialists.
It depends on how quickly the heart or lungs recover. Your ECMO team will explain what to expect for your condition.
Yes. ECMO can be started at any hospital and the patient can be transferred by road or air ambulance, nationally or internationally, to a hospital with a full ECMO setup.
An ECMO machine, a multidisciplinary team of doctors, round-the-clock perfusionists, trained nurses and physiotherapists, laboratory facilities and a blood bank.
Once the heart or lungs have recovered, ECMO is removed. Most patients return to their normal routine after a brief period of rehabilitation, depending on how well the organ has recovered.
The cost depends on the type of ECMO, how long support is needed, and the length of ICU stay. Please contact our team for an estimate, and see our Billing & Insurance page for payment and insurance help. Billing & Insurance
Kauvery Hospital, Chennai has a specialist ECMO team that has performed more than 370 ECMOs and is experienced in awake ECMO, supported by a Hybrid Cath Lab Operating Room and dedicated cardiac ICU and CCU.
Need ECMO support or a second opinion?
Our ECMO team is available to discuss your case. Call our emergency line, book an appointment, or message us on WhatsApp.
This page is for general information only and does not replace advice from a qualified doctor. In an emergency, call our emergency line immediately.
