During the ECMO process, the baby is placed on an elevated bed. This allows the blood to drain by gravity from the venous cannula to the ECMO circuit. A pump then circulates blood through the ECMO circuit. The flow of blood through the circuit is regulated by a perfusionist. Oxygen is put into the blood.
Carbon dioxide is removed.
Oxygen enriched blood is then returned by way of the arterial cannula for distribution to the baby's body. Throughout the ECMO therapy, your baby's heart will continue to pump normally. Although the ECMO circuit will provide a majority of the oxygenation necessary, your baby will continue to be on low ventilator settings as the lungs are allowed to rest and recover. Due to the urgency of preparing for ECMO therapy, selecting specific blood donors to provide for the large amount of blood needed to prime the ECMO circuit is an impossibility. Instead, donor blood that has been meticulously screened will be used.