Editing Cardiopulmonary bypass (section)

=== Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ===
[[Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation]] (ECMO) is a simplified version of the [[heart lung machine]] that includes a [[centrifugal pump]] and an oxygenator to temporarily take over the function of heart and/or the lungs. ECMO is useful for post-cardiac surgery patients with cardiac or pulmonary dysfunction, patients with acute pulmonary failure, massive [[pulmonary embolisms]], lung trauma from infections, and a range of other problems that impair cardiac or pulmonary function.

ECMO gives the heart and/or lungs time to repair and recover, but is only a temporary solution. Patients with terminal conditions, cancer, severe nervous system damage, uncontrolled [[sepsis]], and other conditions may not be candidates for ECMO.