{"id":16407,"date":"2022-08-31T14:25:40","date_gmt":"2022-08-31T17:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mindthegraph.com\/blog\/stem-cell-research-pros-and-cons-copy\/"},"modified":"2022-11-24T12:30:09","modified_gmt":"2022-11-24T15:30:09","slug":"va-ecmo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mindthegraph.com\/blog\/va-ecmo\/","title":{"rendered":"VA ECMO: What it is and how it may be utilized to save lives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, also known as ECMO, is utilized in critical care conditions when your heart and lungs require assistance for the body to recuperate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An ECMO machine is similar to the heart-lung by-pass machine used in open-heart surgery and involves pumping blood from outside the body to a heart-lung, which eliminates carbon dioxide and returns oxygenated blood to the body’s tissues. Blood passes from the right side of the heart to the heart-lung machine’s membrane oxygenator, where it is rewarmed and returned to the body. This machine allows the heart and lungs to rest and recover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two kinds of ECMO: VV ECMO and VA ECMO<\/strong>. In this article, you will learn more about VA ECMO<\/strong> and how to distinguish between the two types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a VA ECMO and how does it work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A veno-arterial ECMO, or VA ECMO<\/strong>, is a machine used to enable the majority of the patient’s blood to travel through the circuit without passing through the heart. This kind of ECMO transfers blood from a large vein to remove unoxygenated blood from the body to a large artery, enabling oxygenated blood to flow throughout the body even when the heart is too frail to pump it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be introduced by peripheral or central access and is typically applied in the operating room to give short-term assistance, particularly in postcardiotomy patients who have been unable to extricate from the cardiopulmonary bypass. The heart will continue to beat while on VA ECMO, but its job will be made much easier because the ECMO machine will conduct the majority of the pumping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Types of ECMO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to VA ECMO<\/strong>, there is VV ECMO and both are quite similar. Veno-venous ECMO removes and returns blood to the venous circulation at the same time. Access is typically gained via a singular Y-shaped cannula put into the internal jugular vein in the neck, which allows blood to leave and return to the body in one location, requiring only one entry site rather than two. However, in certain cases, numerous single lumen cannula may be introduced into the neck and\/or groins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only the lungs are supported by VV ECMO, the patient’s heart must still operate adequately to satisfy the demands of the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main differences between VA ECMO and VV ECMO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n