ECMO Glossary - Common Words & Phrases
ACT -Activated Clotting Time: a test that
measures how many seconds it takes for the blood to clot.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS):A condition in which the lungs
are damaged and do not appropriately allow oxygen into the blood.
Antibiotic:A drug that kills bacteria or germs.
Used to prevent or cure an infection.
Aorta:The large artery that carries oxygenated (red) blood from the heart to
the body.
Artery:This is the
type of blood vessel that pumps red (oxygen rich) blood to the body's organs.
Bronchoscopy (bronk-os-co-pee):A procedure to
visualize and examine the lungs with a fiber optic camera. Samples of tissue and sputum may be sent to
the laboratory for testing.
Cannulas:The plastic tubes that are placed in the blood vessels by the
surgeons to drain blood from the body to the ECMO circuit, and back again.
Cannulation:The process of placing the cannulas
into the blood vessels. This process may be performed surgically (incision made) or percutaneously
(through the skin much like an IV).
Carbon dioxide (CO2):This gas is one of the body's waste products that
is expelled through exhaling or breathing out.
Cardiac catheterization:A procedure where a small catheter is placed into a
vein or artery that is threaded up to the heart to allow us to look at the function of the heart under
x-ray.
Cardiac ECHO:Ultrasound
that allows us to look at the function of the heart.
Cardiology:Specializing in the care of patients with heart disease.
Cardiovascular (CV) surgeon:A doctor
specializing in vein, artery, and heart surgery.
Carotid artery:The large artery in the neck that carries blood from the
heart to the brain.
Centrifugal
pump:The "artificial heart" in the ECMO machine. A device that pumps the blood
through the ECMO circuit and then returns it back to the patient.
Chest tube:A tube that is placed through the chest
wall into the space between the lung and chest wall to drain air or fluid. Used to treat a collapsed
lung (pneumothorax) or to drain fluid.
Chest X-ray:An X-ray performed to look at the
lungs and heart.
CHD or Congenital
Heart Defect:Many different types of heart defects exist. If your loved one is on ECMO
because of a heart problem, you will be given more information by the Cardiology service.
Clamped off:A trial period when your loved one is
taken off ECMO before the cannulas are removed (de-cannulation).
CT Scan:a sophisticated X-ray, usually of the
brain, that allows us to look for bleeding or other problems.
Decannulation:The process of removing the cannulas from the blood vessels.
This process may be performed at the bedside in the intensive care unit.
Dobhoff tube:This is a tube that is inserted
through the nose to a part of the intestines (duodenum). May also be called an NJ
(nasojejunal) tube. This tube allows us to give nutrition and calories to the patient.
ECLS:Extracorporeal Life Support. Another
name for ECMO.
ECMO:Stands for
"Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation". The process by which blood is removed from the body,
enters a circuit of tubing where carbon dioxide is removed and oxygen is added, is re-warmed and then
pumped back into the body. This supports the body with oxygenated blood in place of the patient's
own heart and lungs.
ECMO
Flow:measure of how much blood is being pumped through the circuit to support the patient.
ECMO team:The team consists of
specialized surgeons, perfusionists, physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists.
EEG (Electroencephalogram):A tracing of the
electrical activity of the brain. Electrodes (wires) are placed on the scalp in several locations.
Endotracheal tube:A tube that is placed
directly in the mouth leading into the lungs to help breathe and protect the patient's airway.
Heat Exchanger:A machine that is connected
to the membrane oxygenator that warms the blood before it is pumped back to the patient.
Heparin:A drug that thins the blood and prevents
it from clotting.
Hemofiltration:An artificial kidney that may be used to remove extra fluid
that the patient's own kidneys can't remove. It is inserted into the ECMO circuit.
Interstitial Lung Disease:Scarring of the lungs
that make it difficult for enough oxygen to get into the blood stream.
Intracranial or intraventricular hemorrhage
(IVH):Abnormal bleeding in or around the brain. This is a dangerous potential complication of
ECMO. It can be seen on ultrasound or on a CT scan.
Ligation of blood vessels:When the ECMO catheters are removed, the veins
and/or artery they were in are often permanently ligated (closed off with
a stitch). Usually, this does not cause any problems because the blood can take an alternate route.
Membrane Oxygenator:A membrane that
removes carbon dioxide from the blood and replaces it with oxygen. This is also known as the
"artificial lung."
MRI:A test that uses magnetic fields to image the brain or other body parts.
Neonatologist:A physician
specializing in the care of newborn babies, including those who are critically ill.
Nephrology:The study of kidney function.
Neurology:The part of medicine that
specializes in the nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal
cord.
Platelets:Small particles
in the blood that help in the clotting ability of our body.
Pneumothorax:Escape of air from the lung into the space between the lung
and chest wall.
Pulmonary
hypertension:A condition characterized by higher than normal blood pressure in the arteries
of the lungs. The high pressure is caused by the lumen (central hollow
port) of the arteries narrowing. As a result, the heart works harder to pump blood through the lungs
because the blood vessels won't "open up" and let the blood pass through. This may cause
the heart to fail or the blood to take another route around the lungs. If blood cannot flow normally
through the lungs, it is difficult for it to pick up needed oxygen. When blood does not contain
sufficient oxygen, other body organs will start to fail. This condition can be fatal. Sometimes,
pulmonary hypertension can be cured. ECMO is sometimes used to provide oxygen to the organs while taking
the strain off the lungs and/or heart. This may allow the arteries in the lung to relax and open up.
Radiologist:A doctor who
specializes in reading x-rays and sonograms.
Respiratory Distress:Trouble breathing.
Sepsis:An infection in the blood.
Status Asthmaticus:An asthma attack that does not
get better with usual treatments and causes patients to have difficulty getting enough air in and out of
their lungs.
Surfactant:A
soap-like substance normally found in the lungs of full-term babies, children and adults. This substance
keeps the lungs from collapsing. Premature babies may not have enough of this to keep their lungs from
collapsing.
Tracheostomy:tube
that is placed directly into the neck that leads to the lungs. This tube takes the place of the
endotracheal tube that is placed in the mouth. The tracheostomy tube helps to protect the larynx. It
also decreases the risk of infecting the lungs with germs from the mouth.
Transplant Rejection:When the immune system of a
patient with a transplanted organ recognizes that the organ is "foreign" and tries to attack
the organ damage.
Trialing off
(Weaning):period when ECMO support is temporarily stopped or slowed down to evaluate the
function of the heart and/or lungs. If improvement is shown, ECMO may be discontinued.
Urgent ECLS/E-CPR:An emergency ECMO system. It is
generally used for patients who are extremely unstable and may be close to a cardiac arrest.
VA ECMO:(veno-arterial ECMO). A type of
ECMO that drains blood from a vein, oxygenates the blood in the circuit, and returns the blood to the
body through an artery. This type of ECMO can be used to support both the heart and lungs.
VV ECMO:(veno-venous ECMO). A type of ECMO that
drains blood from a vein, oxygenates the blood in the circuit, and returns the blood through a vein.
This type of ECMO is used when only the lungs need support.
Ventilator:A breathing machine that delivers oxygen, pressure and a rate
of breathing to the patient through a breathing (endotracheal) tube. Also known as a respirator or vent.
Ventricular Assist Device
(VAD):This is a device that will assist the left side of the heart while a patient is waiting
for a heart transplant. More information will be given to you if your family member is waiting for this
device.
Weaning:The process by
which the amount of support is slowly decreased as the patient gets better. The term may be used to
refer to the blood flow rate of the ECMO machine or the settings of the ventilator.