Share
ECMO stands for “extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.” But that’s not important right now. What is important: There’s anecdotal evidence it’s helping patients beat COVID-19.
UCSF-Fresno Dr. Mohamed Fayed is working with colleagues around the globe to study ECMO’s usefulness in a trial.
Extra Oxygen Into the Blood
The ECMO machine is similar to the heart-lung bypass machine used in open-heart surgery. It pumps and oxygenates a patient’s blood outside the body, allowing the heart and lungs to rest.
“What COVID-19 is doing is causing inflammation in the lungs, and causing pneumonia,” Fayed said. “This is new to us, the COVID-19 respiratory failure, and having ECMO in place with this team that can deploy these measures really can save some lives.”
One Fresno Patient on ECMO
Fayed described a COVID-19 patient who came from another hospital because she wasn’t responding to treatment there.
“It is very important to us to offer this kind of technology and to offer this kind of team. I think that this is something we should be proud of.”
Seattle Doctor With COVID-19 Gets ECMO
Dr. Ryan Padgett, 45, an emergency department physician in Seattle, who contracted COVID-19 related pneumonia in early March.
“You realize there are times in life that it’s completely out of control and you have to put your trust and faith in another person’s hands,” Padgett told The Seattle Times.
On the day he was admitted in critical condition — possibly 24 hours from dying — physicians began ECMO to provide life support to Padgett. The treatment draws blood out of the body, oxygenates it, and delivers it back to the body through tubes inserted into a patient’s groin.
Earlier this month, Padgett returned home, where he is recovering.
Just 202 COVID-19 patients in North America have received ECMO treatment, according to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization.
[covid-19-tracker]
RELATED TOPICS:
Clovis CPA Sentenced to Prison for $800K Bank Fraud Scheme
8 hours ago
His Gang Name Is ‘Goer.’ Now Fresno County Man Is Going to Prison for 20 Years
8 hours ago
Missing Woman Found Dead in Fresno County Canal Identified
8 hours ago
Co-Conspirator Sentenced in Fraud Involving Loans to Bitwise
8 hours ago
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Stephanie Marie Zamarripa
8 hours ago
Why Trump Is Mad at ‘Sleazebag’ Leonard Leo
9 hours ago
Madera County Authorities Seek Public’s Help Locating Missing At-Risk Man
10 hours ago
Campbell’s Co. Says Sales Rise as More Americans Cook at Home
10 hours ago
‘King of the Hill’ Voice Actor Jonathan Joss Fatally Shot Outside His Texas Home
7 hours ago
Categories

‘King of the Hill’ Voice Actor Jonathan Joss Fatally Shot Outside His Texas Home

Not Quite ‘Hunger Games,’ but Fresno Budget Hearings Start

Clovis CPA Sentenced to Prison for $800K Bank Fraud Scheme

His Gang Name Is ‘Goer.’ Now Fresno County Man Is Going to Prison for 20 Years

Missing Woman Found Dead in Fresno County Canal Identified

Co-Conspirator Sentenced in Fraud Involving Loans to Bitwise

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Stephanie Marie Zamarripa
