ECMO Unit Hits The Ground Running At Cuttack SCB

As expected, the newly set up Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) unit at the Cuttack SCB Medical College has swung into action with full speed. As many as two patients have been admitted to the special life-support ward of the hospital in the last two days.

A woman from Bolangir district was the second patient to be shifted to the ECMO unit almost a day after a female patient from Cuttack Nischintakoili was admitted to the SCB for critical care.

As per sources, the Bolangir resident was undergoing treatment in the ICU of the hospital after contracting Covid-19 a few days ago. But as her health condition deteriorated, she was moved to the Cardiothoracic department with the consultation of the doctors where she was put under ECMO support last night. 

A team of highly qualified medical professionals of the hospital is monitoring the health condition of the two patients.

With an aim to provide advanced high-tech treatment to people suffering from Covid-19 and other critical ailments, the Odisha Government had launched a dedicated ECMO unit at the SCB Medical on August 27.

The ECMO facility at the State's premier hospital is touted to be the largest unit in the eastern part of India. It has a total of nine ECMO machines in two separate units to cater to the needs of COVID and non-COVID patients.

The government has announced that free treatment will be provided to critically ill patients at the hospital.