Extra corporeal membrane oxygenation
ECMO has become widespread in England. This technology is an alternative to the traditional ventilator. ECMO adds oxygen directly to a patient’s blood without risking lung damage. ECMO is therefore used on patients who have conditions that would put them at too much risk on a ventilator, such as influenza. This leads to improved survival rates from such conditions.
Proposed workforce impact
- Complex cases may require complex management and more generalist skills.
- When patients live longer, they go on to have further health needs later in life, requiring additional workforce provision.
Sources or references
Additional research questions
- Is this affordable?
- There are ethical questions surrounding the futility of care: will patients be kept alive for longer (ultimately dying from their condition) therefore suffering for longer than had they not been kept alive?
Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.
