ECMO Terms
ACT: Activated clotting time - a test that measures how many seconds it takes for the blood to clot.
CANNULA (sometimes called catheters): Tubes that the surgeon places into the blood vessels. These tubes carry the blood from the patient to the ECMO system and return it to the patient.
CANNULATE: To place the cannula into the blood vessel.
DECANNULATE: To remove the cannula from the blood vessel.
ECMO FLOW: The amount of blood that moves through the circuit per minute.
ECMO PUMP: The pump that controls the ECMO Flow. This pump acts like an artificial heart.
ECMO: Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
HEAT EXCHANGER: Warms the blood before it is returned to the patient.
MEMBRANE OXYGENATOR: This is the artificial lung that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide.
PERCUTANEOUS CANNULATION: Placing the cannula without a surgical incision.
THE ECMO TEAM: This team is composed of specially trained Registered Respiratory Therapists, Registered Nurses, Physicians and other allied health professionals.
TRIAL OFF: A test period off ECMO. We turn up the ventilator settings and stop the
ECMO support for a limited period. This will show us how the patient's heart or lungs are healing. The method used varies for VA or VV ECMO.
VENO-ARTERIAL ECMO (VA): This is the type of ECMO that gives heart and lung support. Two cannulas are used, one in the jugular vein and one in the carotid artery.
VENO-VENOUS ECMO (VV): This type of ECMO gives lung support only. We place one cannula in the jugular vein. We place a second cannula (if needed) in the groin.