ECMO avoids the need to open the chest to hook up the machine, as is required with a heart-lung machine. It employs tubes attached to large blood vessels in the neck and leg, an artificial lung that takes over the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, monitoring equipment, and intravenous doses of blood thinners to prevent clotting. Most patients return to normal lung function within a year. Bartlett first used ECMO on a pediatric patient in 1975. There are machines at Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit and Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids.
Most insurance covers use of the device.
U-M has 10 ECMO machines, including three portable units. By Tuesday, after a full week in the hospital, tiny Alaysha grew stronger. She may be weaned soon from the ECMO machine. The man with chicken pox remains in serious condition. The work builds bonds among the team and survivors.