When a heart or lung suddenly fails, even the best ventilators and medications may not be enough to save a life. That’s where ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) becomes the last and most powerful lifeline.

At the heart of this life-saving technology in Rela Hospital, Chennai, stands a dedicated and highly skilled ECMO team led by Dr. Srinath Vijayasekharan and Dr. Senthil Kumar—specialists in cardiothoracic surgery and critical care.

What is ECMO?

ECMO is an advanced life support system that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs. It allows the organs to rest and heal by pumping and oxygenating the blood outside the patient’s body. It is used in severe cardiac or respiratory failure—when conventional methods fail.

The Story of Hope: A Young Mother’s Battle for Breath

32-year-old, a mother of two, was rushed to Rela Hospital in respiratory distress after a severe viral pneumonia rapidly progressed to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Despite maximum ventilator support, her oxygen levels were dropping fast. Her body was shutting down.

With no time to lose, the decision was made to initiate Venovenous ECMO—a form that supports the lungs while the heart continues to beat.

“The patient was critically ill and at risk of multiorgan failure. ECMO was her only hope,” recalls Dr. Senthil Kumar.

Under the leadership of Dr. Srinath and the precision of the ICU-ECMO team, the cannulation was performed bedside within minutes. Over the next 7 days, Deepika’s lungs began to heal, and her oxygen levels normalized. On Day 10, she was weaned off ECMO. Two days later, she smiled for the first time in the ICU—asking for her children.

Today, she’s back home, hugging her kids tighter than ever.

Rela Hospital ECMO Services: 24x7 Life Support at Its Best

Rela Hospital’s ECMO service is one of the most advanced and responsive in South India, offering:

✅ 24x7 ECMO initiation and retrieval
✅ Bedside ECMO for critical ICU patients
✅ Transport ECMO for patients from other hospitals
✅ Adult and Pediatric ECMO Support
✅ Heart & Lung Transplant ECMO bridging
✅ Managed by Dedicated ECMO specialists, perfusionists, and critical care nurses

Bridge to Life, Bridge to Transplant

In many cases, ECMO serves as a bridge to recovery or bridge to heart/lung transplantation. The team has successfully stabilized multiple patients with end-stage heart or lung failure, giving them a second chance at life through transplant.

“ECMO is not a machine—it’s a second chance. But it requires a deeply coordinated team, rapid action, and careful decision-making,” says Dr. Srinath Vijayasekharan.

Why Choose Rela Hospital for ECMO?

• 💓 Experienced cardiac and thoracic surgeons available 24x7

• 🫁 Integrated Heart & Lung ICU with transplant capabilities

• 🚑 Rapid ECMO response and inter-hospital transfers

• 🤝 Multi-disciplinary support: nephrology, infectious disease, pulmonology, and more

When Every Breath Matters, We Stand Ready.

🫁 ECMO Service at Rela Hospital
👨‍⚕️ Led by Dr. Srinath Vijayasekharan & Dr. Senthil Kumar
📍 Rela Institute & Medical Centre, Chromepet, Chennai

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