ECMO Therapy
Related Services:
CHKD's Heart Center Ranked One of the Best in the Country
Advanced Life Support for Critically Ill Children
CHKD is the only hospital in Hampton Roads offering ECMO therapy — extracorporeal membrane oxygenation — for pediatric patients experiencing acute cardiac and, or, respiratory failure.
What Is ECMO?
ECMO is a highly specialized therapy that temporarily takes over the work of the lungs, or both the heart and lungs, allowing a child’s body time to heal from serious medical conditions. ECMO uses a pump to circulate blood from the patient’s body through an artificial lung – removing carbon dioxide, adding oxygen, and then returning it to the body.
This advanced form of life support is used in critically ill children with serious but reversible conditions, such as:
- Severe pneumonia
- Acute Respiratory Distress
- Hypothermia
- Myocarditis
- Respiratory Failure
- Sepsis
ECMO therapy may last from several days to a few weeks and is managed in CHKD’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
Expert Team, National Recognition
CHKD’s ECMO program is led by:
- Dr. Meaghan Dominy, ECMO Medical Director
- Dr. Franklin Margaron, ECMO Surgical Director
Our dedicated ECMO team includes specially trained perfusionists, nurses, and respiratory therapists, all expertly trained in pediatric ECMO care.
Nationally Recognized Center of Excellence
CHKD’s ECMO program has earned the Gold Level ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support — the highest designation awarded by the international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). This honor recognizes:
- Exceptional quality of patient care
- Advanced training and collaboration
- Commitment to the healing environment for families and staff
