When a child’s lungs or heart aren’t working, our Nemours Children's team can use a technology that gives these organs a chance to rest and heal. Called “extracorporeal membrane oxygenation” (“ECMO,” for short), it’s a machine that temporarily takes over for the heart, lungs or both by pumping blood and delivering oxygen throughout the body.
“Extracorporeal” means treatment that takes place outside the body. “Membrane” means a type of artificial lung. “Oxygenation” means supplying oxygen to the blood. At Nemours, our ECMO teams combine a mastery of this technology with support services to help families navigate a challenging time.
Learn more about Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) at the Nemours KidsHealth Library
Depending on a child’s needs, we may use one of two ECMO treatments:
Our ECMO care team members may include:
Our care is about more than an ECMO machine. It’s a team of nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists and more with experience using this proven, life-saving technology and supporting your family along the way.
Regional ECMO Highlights
Services, programs and care teams differ at each location. Call for details.
Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia
We offer full-service ECMO care at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware (Wilmington, Del.).
Central Florida
We offer ECMO care at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida (Orlando).
Nemours has a number of service regions. Selecting your region will help us show you the right contact information and the most relevant content for you.