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Evening Clinic

ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) Program

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Program Overview

CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills offers a full-spectrum, protocol-driven ECMO program designed for timely referral, safe patient transfer, and high-survival critical care support. The program is led by senior intensivists and supported by a fully trained ECMO command team available 24x7 for activation, assessment, and inter-hospital coordination.

Why ECMO Matters

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) provides temporary cardiac and/or respiratory support for patients in reversible but life-threatening failure. When initiated early and under the right indications, ECMO reduces mortality, prevents organ shutdown, and supports time for definitive recovery or advanced therapy.

When to Refer for ECMO – Clinical Triggers

Referral should not wait for complete organ collapse. Early transfer improves survival. Common triggers include:

  • Refractory hypoxemia despite optimal ventilator settings

  • Severe cardiogenic shock unresponsive to inotropes

  • Cardiac arrest with witnessed downtime and reversible pathology (ECPR)

  • ARDS with PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio < 80 despite maximal support

  • Massive pulmonary embolism or myocarditis with hemodynamic instability

ECMO Referral & Activation Pathway

Referring doctor calls CARE ECMO Hotline
Rapid clinical triage with ECMO Intensivist (≤ 10 mins)
Decision: Mobile ECMO deployment or urgent patient transfer
Bed reservation + transport coordination
ECMO initiation and ICU admission at CARE Banjara

Mobile ECMO / On-Site Cannulation Capability

Our team can activate a Mobile ECMO response when clinically justified. This option allows:

  • Bedside cannulation at referring hospital
  • Stabilization prior to transfer
  • Prevention of cardiac arrest during transit

Mobile ECMO decisions are made case-by-case based on patient profile, infrastructure, and transfer feasibility.

Patient Transfer & Retrieval Model

All transfers are fully coordinated by the ECMO command team. Transfer modes:

  • Pre-ECMO transfer (if patient stable enough)
  • On-ECMO transfer (if cannulation done on site)

Partner ambulance services with ventilator, defibrillator, and transport perfusion support are available 24×7.

Shared Clinical Ownership & Referring Doctor Involvement

Referring clinicians remain part of the care continuum. Updates are shared daily, and the case returns to the originating clinician/team once stabilized if preferred. Shared management is encouraged for continuity and ethical clarity.

Repatriation Policy

Patients may be transferred back to the base hospital post-ECMO once clinically stable and no longer requiring advanced critical care. Discharge summaries, progress notes, and ECMO logs are handed over in full transparency.

Affordability Model

CARE Banjara offers ECMO at a significantly lower cost compared to most metro tertiary centres while maintaining international clinical standards. No hidden billing, no procedural layering, all charges disclosed upfront. Packages available for insured, semi-insured, and credit-based cases.

ECMO Myths vs Facts

Myth Fact
ECMO is only for dying patients. ECMO saves lives when initiated early before multi-organ collapse.
ECMO always requires long duration. Many cases wean within 3–7 days with structured protocols.
ECMO is unaffordable for most patients. CARE Banjara has redesigned cost models to make ECMO accessible.
Patients never recover fully post-ECMO. ECMO-supported patients often achieve complete recovery when the primary condition is reversible.

Ethical Framework

The ECMO program follows a strict ethical and governance model:

  • ECMO not initiated in irreversible or non-recoverable disease
  • No life prolongation without purpose
  • Family consent includes transparent prognosis communication
  • ECMO Board oversight for decision justification
  • Withdrawal guidelines exist for futility-based scenarios

Critical Care Doctors

Cardiac Critical Care Doctors

Cardiology Doctors

Cardiac Anaesthesia Doctors

Cardiothoracic Surgery Doctors

Internal Medicine Doctors

Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Doctors

Pulmonology Doctors

Physiotherapy Doctors

Doctor Video's

Frequently Asked Questions

Will your team visit our hospital before transfer?

Yes, if clinically required. Virtual assessment also available.

How fast can ECMO be activated?

Triage within 10 mins, deployment within 45–90 mins depending on location.

Can we shift patients at night?

Yes — 24×7 hotline and transfer system.

Can the original doctor continue involvement?

Yes, co-managed care is encouraged.

Is ECMO always a last option?

No — earlier initiation → higher survival.