What is ECMO and when is it needed?

ECMO is an advanced life-support system used when a patient's heart or lungs, or both, are too damaged to function on their own. It takes over the work of these organs outside the body, giving them time to rest and recover while the underlying condition is treated.

What is the difference between VV ECMO and VA ECMO?

VV ECMO supports only the lungs, used in conditions like severe pneumonia and ARDS. VA ECMO supports both the heart and lungs, used in cardiac failure, severe poisoning, and similar emergencies. The choice depends entirely on the patient's condition.

Patients on ECMO are typically sedated and in the ICU. The procedure itself is not painful. Our Critical Care team manages comfort and monitoring throughout the ECMO support period.

How long does a patient stay on ECMO?

This depends on how quickly the heart or lungs recover. Some patients are on ECMO for a few days, others for longer. Our team monitors progress closely and makes decisions based on each patient's individual response.

Can patients from other cities come to Apex Hospitals for ECMO?

Yes. We receive patients from across Rajasthan and neighbouring states. Our location near Jaipur International Airport and major highways makes emergency transfers accessible.

Advanced ECMO Care at Apex Hospitals Jaipur

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ECMO Overview

ECMO at Apex Hospitals, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur

ECMO, or Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, is the technology that steps in at that point. It is one of the most advanced life-support technologies available in critical care today. It is used when a patient's heart or lungs, or both, are too damaged to function on their own, and conventional treatment is no longer enough. It takes over the work of the heart, the lungs, or both, giving the body the time it needs to recover.

At Apex Hospitals, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur, we have been running a dedicated ECMO program since 2021. Since that time, we have managed over 50 ECMO cases with an 80% survival rate, one of the strongest outcomes for an ECMO program in Rajasthan.

For families who have been told that their loved one is too critical for further treatment, ECMO is often the answer they were not aware existed. And in Rajasthan, very few hospitals offer it. Apex Hospitals is one of them.

Our ECMO Program at Apex

ECMO at Apex Hospitals is not a standalone procedure, it is backed by a full critical care ecosystem. Our 70+ doctors across 30+ specialities, including cardiology, pulmonology, CT surgery, nephrology, and neurology, all working together to manage each ECMO patient as a team.

Every patient on ECMO at Apex Hospitals receives round-the-clock monitoring in our advanced ICU, with a multidisciplinary team making decisions at every stage, from the moment ECMO is initiated to the careful process of weaning the patient off support.

We offer two types of ECMO:

VV ECMO — Veno-Venous ECMO

When the lungs have failed but the heart is still functioning, VV ECMO steps in to take over oxygenation. It removes blood from the body, oxygenates it outside, and returns it, giving the lungs complete rest. This is used in conditions like severe pneumonia and ARDS, where the lungs are so inflamed or damaged that they can no longer transfer oxygen to the blood on their own.

VA ECMO — Veno-Arterial ECMO

When both the heart and lungs have failed, VA ECMO takes over both functions simultaneously. It supports circulation as well as oxygenation, making it the option used in cardiac failure, severe poisoning, and other emergencies where the heart has stopped responding to treatment.

Our Achievements

Conditions We Treat with ECMO

Some of the most critical conditions we manage with ECMO include:

• Severe Pneumonia

• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

• Severe Poisoning

• Cardiac Failure

• Post-cardiac surgery complications

• Any condition where the heart or lungs have not responded to conventional treatment

These are conditions where time is critical and the margin for error is very narrow. Having an experienced ECMO team, one that has managed 50+ cases, makes a real difference to outcomes.