Bengaluru: Department of Critical Care at Manipal Hospitals Whitefield organised ECMO basic workshop on February 4, 2020. Didactic lectures on various topics related to the care of ECMO patients and hands-on workshop were conducted.
The workshop witnessed several delegates participating at the event from across specialties like intensivists, training fellows, critical care nurses and perfusionists such as Dr. Rajesh Mohan Shetty, Dr. Rajavardhan R, Dr. Manjunath T, and Dr. Nithya CA, Consultants Critical Care, Manipal Hospitals Whitefield.
The ECMO survivors too participated in the workshop and shared their experiences of the timely use of ECMO and how it succeeded in saving their lives at Manipal Hospitals Whitefield.
The didactic lectures were organised on various topics like ‘Physiology of ECMO and basics’, ‘indications/types techniques for access’, ‘know cardio help and cannulae’, ‘know cardio help and cannulae’, ‘care of ECMO patient’ and ‘hypoxemia in VV ECMO’.
To provide a more hands-on workshop to deal with ECHMO patients, various topics were covered like ‘priming of circuit’, ‘trouble-shooting in cardio help’ and ‘concentrating on V ECHMO’.
“Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a boon in the form of a machine that acts as a heart-lung bypass. It can support and perform the functions of the lung and the heart, individually and together. The ECMO circuit acts as an artificial heart and lung for the patient during ECMO therapy. It is important to be aware of the usefulness of ECMO for health professionals as well as families”, said Dr. Rajesh Mohan Shetty, Consultant Critical Care at Manipal Hospitals Whitefield.
“We had 3 cases who were extremely critical and the timely use of ECMO was helpful in saving their lives. The first case was of Murugan a 50-year male civil contractor who was admitted with severe fever, cough and breathing difficulty. Initially, he was treated with antibiotics, flu medicine (oseltamivir) and oxygen. Because of increasing breathing difficulty and a decrease in the oxygen level, he was put on a ventilator. He was then put on resting lung ventilation and his kidneys had failed as well. When his condition improved, he was removed from the ventilator and kidney function improved post-dialysis. Initial few days he needed regular follow up with nephrology, plastic surgery team. He is now independent, doing his routine work”, said Dr. Rajavardhan R, Consultant Critical Care at Manipal Hospitals Whitefield.
“ECMO plays a very critical role and is a savior. We had Mrs. Lakshmamma, a 37-year-old female homemaker was referred from an outside hospital with a history of fever, cough and cold on 10/08/2019. Initially, she was treated with antibiotics, flu medicine (oseltamivir) and oxygen. Even on ventilator full support, her oxygen levels did not improve, the family was given the option of initiation of ECMO- family agreed for the same and she was initiated on ECMO. She was put on resting lung ventilation. Her condition gradually and she was taken off the ventilator. Initial few days she required oxygen therapy, nebulization because of cough. Now she is independent doing all her routine, including taking her of kids”, said Dr. Nithya CA, Consultants Critical Care, Manipal Hospitals Whitefield.
The third case was of Prashanth Kumar, a 34-year-old man, who works with G4S Secure Solutions as an Assignment Manager had come with complaints of fever, cough, and breathlessness on 20/12/2019. Initially, he was treated with antibiotics, flu medicine (oseltamivir) and oxygen. Even on ventilator full support, his oxygen levels did not improve; which was why the family was given the option of initiation of ECMO.
The family agreed for the same and he was initiated on ECMO. He was put on resting lung ventilation. Eventually, he was weaned off ECMO and was discharged with oxygen to home. He no longer requires oxygen now.