Northside Hospital Heart Institute offers extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) which provides therapy for patients with life-threatening lung and/or heart conditions. We are one of only ten programs in the state offering this technology. The ECMO program is currently available as part of our comprehensive cardiovascular services at Northside Hospital Gwinnett. This is a specialized program made up of a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals with expertise in managing ECMO patients. The team is comprised of interventional cardiologists, surgeons, intensivists, advanced practitioners, nurses, perfusionists, and respiratory therapists who work together to provide coordinated care to these critically ill patients in order to optimize survival and quality outcomes.
We serve hospitals throughout Georgia and surrounding states. An ECMO physician is available and on call 24/7. Patient transport to Northside Hospital Gwinnett is arranged through our Transfer Center. Physicians or medical professionals can reach our transfer center at (855) 662-6625.
Northside Hospital Heart Institute is now offering ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation), a state-of-the art, life-saving technology, which gives full lung and heart support to some very critically ill patients.
The heart‘s primary function is to pump blood through the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues. When the heart is not working, ECMO can take over by pumping the patient’s blood through a device that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide outside of the body, before circulating the blood back into the patient. Likewise, if the lungs are not working and a ventilator cannot provide enough support, ECMO can take over and perform the function of the lungs.
Allison Dupont, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Director, Northside Hospital Heart Institute Mechanical Circulatory Support
Charlie Nix, BSN, RN, CCRN-K
Northside Hospital Heart Institute
ECMO Coordinator
