ECMO machines that were used in the treatment of Covid-19 were helpful in treating patients with other acute respiratory ailments, a doctor who treated many such patients said.
Dipanjan Chatterjee, an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) physician at the Medica Superspecialty Hospital, said the machine turned out to be a lifesaver for many patients who were infected with adenovirus earlier this year and treated at the hospital.
A five-year-old boy spent 18 days on ECMO, a 15-year-old girl spent 47 days on ECMO and a four-year-old boy spent eight days on the machine. All of them had tested positive for adenovirus and were admitted to the hospital between January and April.
“At one point, we thought we would not get her back. But after a prolonged treatment she was cured,” said Sukanta Bose, father of 15-year-old Sudeshna.
Chatterjee said patients were put on ECMO support when even ventilation failed to yield desired results.
“A patient is put on ECMO support when the lungs cannot function any longer,” said Chatterjee, head of cardio-pulmonary critical care at Medica.
ECMO machines artificially conduct the gaseous exchange. “We want people to know that ECMO can save many lives,” said Chatterjee.