History
The ECMO Program at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center began clinical operations in January 1996. Since the inception of the ECMO program at WFUBMC we have cared for over 300 patients. On average, we care for 4 ECMO patients per month. We provide extracorporeal support to neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients in cardiac and / or respiratory failure unresponsive to maximal medical therapy (including surfactant therapy, Nitric Oxide, and HFOV). We are capable of supporting 4 ECMO patients simultaneously. We support our ECMO patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Brenner Children's Hospital and the Adult Medical and Cardiac Surgical ICU at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
The ECMO Program is under the Department of Respiratory Care Services; the Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery provides Medical Direction. The program maintains a multidisciplinary approach. Patient care is supported by faculty and staff from Pediatrics, Neonatology, Cardiology, Radiology, Nursing, Pediatric Surgery, and Respiratory Care.