Advanced Extracorporeal and Cardiovascular Life Support

For selected critically ill patients whose heart or lungs cannot maintain adequate circulation or oxygenation despite conventional therapy, Apollo Adlux Hospital provides access to ECMO and advanced circulatory support in Kochi.

Veno-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO) may be used for selected cases of severe respiratory failure, while veno-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) may provide temporary heart and lung support in selected patients with profound cardiogenic shock or cardiovascular collapse. The Centre also has capability for Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) in carefully selected patients experiencing refractory cardiac arrest, where ECMO is initiated as part of an advanced resuscitation strategy.

Other circulatory support options include vasopressors, inotropic therapy and Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) depending on the underlying condition. These therapies are delivered through multidisciplinary collaboration involving emergency physicians, intensivists, cardiac specialists, perfusionists and other relevant teams.