Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO): A Brief Review

Abstract

Extracorporeal respiratory support techniques have revolutionized the treatment of respiratory failure, allowing the maintenance of vital functions in patients whose respiratory system cannot function adequately. This study explores advancements in these technologies, with a particular focus on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO is an advanced system that oxygenates the blood and removes carbon dioxide outside the body, providing temporary support to patients while their lungs recover or stabilize as they await a definitive treatment. These techniques are based on a detailed understanding of transport phenomena in biological systems, such as gas exchange and fluid movement, which has been made possible through biomedical engineering. Moreover, the discipline shares an ethical commitment with medicine, promoting equity in access to these solutions This analysis highlights the importance of ECMO and related technologies in the care of patients with severe respiratory failure, emphasizing the role of biomedical engineering in designing devices the simulate essential physiological processes to save lives.