KMCH leads critical care with record ECMO runs

Kovai Medical Center and Hospital has strengthened its position as a leading centre for advanced critical care by recording the highest number of ECMO procedures in Tamil Nadu in 2025.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, commonly known as ECMO, is a specialized life-support treatment used for patients whose heart and lungs are unable to function effectively on their own. The technology temporarily performs the work of these vital organs, providing crucial time for the patient’s body to recover while doctors treat the underlying condition.
The treatment process involves drawing blood from the patient’s body through tubes, passing it through a machine that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, and then returning the oxygenated blood back into the body.
Hospital authorities said the centre has successfully carried out more than 200 ECMO runs over the past five years. In 2025 alone, the hospital performed 75 ECMO runs, the highest number recorded in the State, further establishing its role as a major ECMO-capable centre in the country.
Equipped with advanced ECMO consoles, specialized intensive care units and a trained medical team, the hospital has been offering life-saving support to critically ill patients suffering from severe heart and lung failure.
The hospital has also introduced a specialized ECMO ambulance service, becoming only the second hospital in Tamil Nadu to provide this facility. The mobile unit enables doctors to reach critically ill patients and safely transport them to the hospital while maintaining ECMO support.
Doctors noted that ECMO is recommended for patients with reversible and treatable conditions who do not respond to conventional treatments such as ventilators or medications. Early referral and evaluation are considered crucial for improving survival chances in critically ill patients.