Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) has introduced ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), an advanced life saving machine for the first time in south India. The new machine is used when every other life support measure fails to support patients whose heart and lung are severely diseased or damaged. It is said to cost the patients around 3 to 10 lakh depending on the duration of its use.

Having introduced this new technology to patients at KIMS in Secundrabad, the hospital management is planning to conduct a national training camp on ECMO in collaboration with ECMO society of India. As the ECMO technology is relatively new in the country, there are very few doctors, nurses and technicians in the country who have real-time experience on the machine. In view of this, the hospital is organizing a workshop to develop human resources in this area. “This is probably the second machine introduced in India; in south India we have introduced this machine for the first time. As there are a very few doctors, nurses and technicians trained on this advanced machine, we are conducting a workshop offering training to doctors and nurses from 9th to 11th November.  Interested persons can join in the training session and take advantage of the programme,” said Dr Bhasker Rao, CEO, KIMS.

Now coming to the advanced technology, ECMO is used only when medicines and ventilator treatment are not able to keep a patient alive, and there are strict criteria to determine which patient will benefit from this technology.  The procedure involves using a specialized machine called ECMO pump. Blood from the patient is run through special pipes for the purpose of achieving gas exchange through a membrane oxygenator.  The purified blood is sent back to the body through the tubes. This happens until the heart or lungs are able to work on their own.  The amount of time this takes depends on how the heart and lungs heal.

When asked whether this machine can be used to a patient with multiple lung failure, Dr Suneel Pooboni, specialist of this machine replied that it can even be used for patients with multiple organ failure but the success rate is more for a patient with single organ failure.

According to doctor’s opinion this new technology can save 50 per cent of lives in infants and adults in India. The survival rate in developed countries using this technology is 70 percent in adults and 90 per cent in infants.

Dr. Rao stressed that there is need to develop more skilled and trained doctors in the country.  There are very few doctors and nurses who are experienced on the new and emerging medical technologies.  At the same time, the patients’ awareness levels and knowledge about available treatment and facilities are very low in the rural parts of the country, opined the doctor.