Burjeel Medical City launches ECMO Life Support System for pediatric patients

Burjeel Medical City launches ECMO Life Support System for pediatric patients

Abu Dhabi: Burjeel Medical City (BMC) in Abu Dhabi today announced that it has launched the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) life support system for pediatric patients. ECMO is the highest form of life support currently available to patients with life threatening but reversible conditions such as respiratory failure that is unresponsive to conventional therapies like mechanical ventilation.

BMC will be among the select few hospitals in the UAE that offers this state-of-the-art life support system for children and will initially focus on neonatal respiratory failure, as is the standard of care in advanced countries.

“At Burjeel Medical City, we are constantly building on a solid foundation for pediatric care and continue to be the leader in bringing in new technologies and performing path-breaking procedures. Working with industry leaders and drawing on our expertise of building sustainable health systems, we are making a significant difference in the outcomes for pediatric care while creating a blueprint for healthcare standard in the UAE,” said John Sunil, Regional CEO of Burjeel Hospitals.

Since its efficacy was recognized during the H1N1 pandemic in 2008-09, the use of ECMO has increased exponentially throughout the world. While children with certain congenital anomalies like diaphragmatic hernia are at higher risk of