Page Title ECMO Graphics 1 and 2. A small operation is performed on the right side of the neck. The flow of blood drains poorly oxygenated blood from the right atrium and returns oxygenated blood to the aorta.
Blood drains from the body by gravity and fills the 'bladder' or reservoir shown in the diagram.
The bladder is contained within a bladder box which includes a safety device to prevent too much blood being extracted from the baby. 4 and 5. Blood passes from the bladder to the roller pump illustrated in these two pictures. The rollers squeeze the blood pumping it forward, thereby acting as an artificial heart. Within the oxygenator, blood is spread into many small chambers which are separated from the oxygen supply by a thin silicone membrane.