What is a membrane oxygenator?
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membrane oxygenator is a device that mimics the lung function, pulls carbon dioxide from the blood and fills it with oxygen. This device can be used for short -term cardiopulmonary bypass in surgery. It is also available in the form of oxygenation of extracorporeal membranes (ECMO), which can be used up to ten days to support a patient that lacks normal heart and pulmonary function. The origin of this technology can be traced until the age of 30, when scientists began experimenting ways to maintain patients with limited circulatory function. The semipermeable membrane pulls out carbon dioxide and at the same time allows to flow through the oxygen before returning the blood. Technology required significant research and development before the success of work models, because there were a number of challenges for researchers. The successful membrane oxygenazab TOR was a significant development of medicine in the 20th century and provided more opportunities to support patients and perform complex medical procedures.
One concern with early suggestions included clotting. Blood exposed to air can be clotted and circulation in some devices could not prevent clots and pose a clear risk to patients. The earliest designs required exposure to the air to work, which created an unacceptably high level of clots. Another problem was gas bubbles that could cause problems for patients, and required the development of a carefully calibrated device that could allow oxygen injection without the creation of bubbles.
In the cardiopulmonary bypass, the membrane oxygenator is operated by a technician with a specific training in technology and its safe operation. The cannulas are placed to walk around the heart and lungs while the machine takes over for them. This allows surgeons to work in the chest and perform operations that would not otherwise be possible. When the procedure is terminated, the patient can be removed from the bypass to restore the heart and lungs of normal function.
people with degraded funHearts and lungs waiting for surgery, recover from surgery or preparing for transplantation, can benefit from using a membrane oxygenator. The machine cannot keep someone alive, but can provide support for several days. These patients must usually be hospitalized for monitoring and support. If they reach the edges of the safety window for which ECMO can be dangerous, their care providers may need to reconsider to determine the best approach.