The list of units included in the national program “Priority – ECMO” actions has been extended with six other public hospitals, so that patients who need to perform the respiratory function using an “artificial lung” will be treated here.
The device allows to take over the functions of the lung/heart photo: FB/Hospital Victor Babeș Timișoara
Until the extension of the program, ten public hospitals, most being regional centers, offered critical patients an additional chance in life, by using devices that artificially take and support vital functions. The newly included hospitals are: Bihor County Emergency Clinical Hospital; Emergency Clinical Hospital “Prof. Dr. Agrippa Ionescu” Bucharest; Târgu Mureș County Clinical Hospital; Craiova County Emergency Clinical Hospital; Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Timișoara; Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases and Pneumophysiology “Dr. Victor Babeș” Timișoara.
“There are clear criteria for using this device”
The hospital for infectious diseases and pneumophysiology Dr. Victor Babeș from Timisoara posted on the official ED Facebook account more information on the financing of the use of “artificial lung” for patients with severe lung damage through the ECMO actions program.
“The artificial lung or ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) is that device designed to supplement the body’s respiratory function when a patient’s lungs are no longer able to ensure the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Basically, it is a device that takes on the role of natural lungs, oxygenating blood and eliminating residual gases. ECMO is used when the lungs need to be put “on rest” in order to restore. In other words, the patient is gaining time to allow the lungs to heal. The device is used until the pulmonary function is recovered ”informs the representatives of the hospital.
The device takes over the activity of the respiratory system, its structure being similar to that of the pulmonary alveoli. The device is used during the period when the patient’s lungs are restored, the period necessary for this recovery, on average, between 2-4 weeks, when we talk about serious infectious diseases, explains Dr. Mirela Poroșnicu – head of the ATI Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pneumophysiology Dr. Victor Babeș Timișoara.
In the case of the “Victor Babeș” Hospital Timișoara, annually benefits from the “artificial lung” each-seven patients, from the beginning of this year until the receipt of the news that the unit was included in the program being treated using this device three patients.
“The cost for using such a device amounts to about 8,000 10,000 euros ”, the source quoted. The inclusion in the program gives the hospital the opportunity to obtain funds for the purchase of kites needed for patients with severe lung damage, such costs being supported so far only for regional centers.
“There were situations when I asked for the help of colleagues from the County Hospital, to take over the patients. I want to thank my colleagues from the ATI from the County Hospital, but also to the Minister Alexandru Rogobete for the inclusion of the Babeș Hospital in this program ”, said Dr. Mirela Porosnicu.
The criteria to benefit from the treatment with the ECMO device are strict, so not every patient can benefit. One of the main criteria is that the patient has massive pulmonary impairment, over 80%, has been installed severe hypoxia that does not respond to conventional treatment methods, but the actual recovery chance after the temporary support of ECMO is also taken into account, putting the condition of irreversible or contraindicated comorbidities.
“An important step taken to support the medical team in this counter-carometer fight”
Craiova County Emergency Clinical Hospital, located on the list of new units in the program, does not have the technique of “artificial lung”. The date from which the ECMO procedure will be available depends on the financing from the ministry.
“It was a request. It was not only increasing the number of critical patients admitted to the Vascular Surgery Clinic of our hospital, but also of the gravity and complexity of pathologies. And then it was clear that it was necessary to need modern, complex, advanced techniques and methods to support vital functions and care for these patients ”told the “Adevărul” the spokesman of the hospital, Dr. Cristiana Geormaneanu. The request for the inclusion of the hospital in the program was made by the representatives of the Anesthesia and Intensive Care – Cardiovascular Surgery, motivated by the fact that the use of such a technique involves important costs that the hospital cannot bear in full.
“The ministry has included our hospital in the ECMO AP program. This program allows the artificial support and support of vital functions by giving patients an additional chance at life. Saving the life of critical patients under such conditions is fast and effective. We expect to see how quickly it will be implemented, but it is an important step to support the medical team in the case”added Dr. Geormaneanu.
ECMO is an advanced vital support procedure, which functions as an artificial “lung” and/or “heart”. It is temporarily used for critical patients. The blood is removed from the patient’s body, is passed through a special membrane that eliminates carbon dioxide and adds oxygen, then pumped back into the body. This pump can also take over the role of the heart, maintaining the circulation of blood. There are two main types: the veno -arterial one – supporting both the lungs and the heart (used especially in case of severe heart failure or resuscitated cardiac arrest); Veno -Venos – supports only the pulmonary function (it is used when the heart is functional, but the lungs cannot oxygenate the blood).
