Jayalalithaa on Extracorporeal membrane heart assist device; here is how ECMO works

The Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is life support given to a critical patient whose heart and lungs cannot produce 'adequate gas exchange'.

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Sunday suffered cardiac arrest and has been put on a heart assist device. Apollo Hospital on Sunday tweeted saying, “She is on extracorporeal membrane heart assist device and is being treated by a team of expert doctors and critical care specialists.” Tamil Nadu chief minister has been undergoing treatment in the hospital since two months.

What is ECMO support?

She is on extracorporeal membrane heart assist device and is being treated by a team of expert doctors and critical care specialists.

— Apollo Hospitals (@HospitalsApollo) December 4, 2016

The Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is life support given to a critical patient whose heart and lungs cannot produce ‘adequate gas exchange’ to remain alive. That process is called Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). It is a life-sustaining intervention which is used in cardiac and respiratory failure. (ALSO READ- Jayalalithaa’s latest health news updates: Timeline of Amma’s illness)

According to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization, ECMO process is initiated only during acute severe cardiac or pulmonary failure that does not respond to conventional management. In the process blood is pumped directly into the body as the heart and lungs cannot perform the function of pumping. Hence, an artificial method of life-giving function is done. Oxygenation in the process means heart assist takes blood from a person’s body and removes carbon dioxide from it, and pumps oxygen into the red blood cells that keeps a person alive.

Meanwhile, Apollo Hospitals today said that J Jayalalithaa “continues to be very critical,” a day after suffering cardiac arrest, and is on various life support systems. Apollo Hospitals Chief Operating Officer Subbiah Viswanthan said in a statement said that she “continues to be very critical and is on ECMO and other life support systems. Jayalalithaa had shown signs of improvement during the last few days before she suffered cardiac arrest. (ALSO READ: Jayalalithaa undergoes heart operation, AIADMK says Amma absolutely ‘fine’)

Hundreds of AIADMK workers had gathered outside Apollo Hospitals, where Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment. Her supporters offered special prayers for her speedy recovery. While some were wailing, others looked dejected over the news of the deterioration of their leader’s health.

Jayalalithaa continues to remain under close watch of an expert team of doctors at the Apollo Hospitals.where she has been undergoing treatment for more than two months.