Fullcardiopulmonary bypass machines(heart-lung machines) are used only for a few hours during surgery.
As far back as 1944, researchers recognized that blood passing through semipermeable membranes became oxygenated.
This observation became the basis for cardiopulmonary bypass.
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At first, cardiopulmonary bypass relied on bubble or disk oxygenators which exposed blood directly to air.
Of note, only VA ECMO provides hemodynamic or blood pressure support.
Patients who are on ECMO are usually very sick, and not everyone survives the experience.
Specifically, only 56 percent of adults with respiratory problems made it to discharge or transfer.
to mitigate the threat of thrombosis, components of ECMO are coated in heparin, a blood thinner.
Nevertheless, ECMO represents a promising new way to help many more people.
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