[Application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (ECMO) in the treatment of severe adult respiratory distress syndrome].

Extracorporeal oxygenator is used in severe respiratory and/or circulatory failure that is intractable to other therapies. In ECMO therapy, poorly oxygenated blood is pumped through an extracorporeal oxygenator and directed back to the patient's circulation. The therapy can be utilized to maintain the homeostasis of the organ system during circulatory or respiratory failure resulting from a disease. Due to risk of complications, ECMO should be used with caution on carefully selected patients. For a severely ill patient ECMO can be life-saving when started early.