England: All 21 Life Saving Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation Are In Use

Flu: Life-saving treatment beds full around country
Every hospital bed in the country offering life-saving treatment for flu is now in use as the outbreak worsens.

03 Jan 2011
Over the past month the National Health Service has increased fourfold the number of special machines that treat critical flu victims.

But all 21 are now in use and health authorities have been told that if demand continues to rise, more intensive care units may need to cancel routine operations in order to start offering the complex service to treat the most seriously ill sufferers of the virus.
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Official figures show that 39 people in Britain have died of flu since October, most from the H1N1 form known as swine flu, while reported cases rose by more than 40 per cent last week.
As many as half of adult intensive care beds are occupied by swine flu victims in some areas, with paediatric units worst hit.

Normally there are just five machines available offering a form of life-saving treatment - called Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation or Ecmo – to help victims whose lungs have failed by providing oxygen directly into their bloodstreams.

As flu cases rose and more seriously ill patients were referred for Ecmo treatment in December, NHS Specialised Services increased the number of beds to 21. Last year just 12 beds were needed.

A portable Ecmo machine was flown by Prince William in a RAF helicopter to treat a young woman who developed swine flu just weeks after giving birth, but she later died in North Manchester General Hospital.

Ecmo is now on offer at seven hospitals around England, with referrals taking place at the country’s main Ecmo centre in Glenfield Hospital, Leicester. Those offering the treatment, which requires the use of increased numbers of doctors and nurses, have been told to postpone planned operations.

All 21 beds are now in use, although there is no suggestion that patients are being turned away. But as more patients continue to be considered for Ecmo, health bodies are preparing to buy even more of the £40,000 machines and install them in more centres.

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