ECMO Program

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is an advanced form of life support used to treat infants, children, and adults in cardiac and/or respiratory failure. The ECMO Program at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is under the management of the Department of Respiratory Care Services. The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery provides medical direction. The program maintains a multidisciplinary approach. Patient care is supported by faculty and staff from Pediatrics, Neonatology, Cardiology, Radiology, Nursing, Pediatric Surgery, and Respiratory Care. 

[video]

Dr. Neal Kon, Chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery, explains what ECMO is and how we use it here at Wake Forest Baptist.

 


Since its inception in January 1996, the ECMO program at WFBMC has cared for over 450 patients. The ECMO team provides extracorporeal life support to neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients with cardiac and/or respiratory failure who are unresponsive to maximal medical therapy as well as patients in acute cardiac failure awaiting transplant or placement of a ventricular assist device.

The WFBMC ECMO program is capable of supporting up to 5 ECMO patients simultaneously. The ECMO team cares for an average of 4 patients per month in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Brenner Children's Hospital and the Adult Cardiothoracic Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

The WFBMC ECMO program is a member of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), an international registry for ECMO Centers.

Faculty & Staff

 

Neal D. Kon, MDCharles S. Turner, MD  
Neal D. Kon, MD
Chair, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Charles S. Turner, MD
Pediatric Surgery   
John K. Petty, MD  Thomas Pranikoff, MD
John K. Petty, MD
Pediatric Surgery  
Thomas Pranikoff, MD
Pediatric Surgery
   Ross M. Ungerleider, MDScott Copus, BS, RRT  
Ross M. Ungerleider, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Scott Copus, BS, RRT
ECMO Program Coordinator  
  
Image Not Available-Faculty Profile  

  Barney Barnes, BA, RRT, RPFT
ECMO Specialist Educator

 

 

Contact Us

  • For ECMO Consult Services you may call the Physician's Access Line (PAL®) at 800-277-7654 and ask to speak with the ECMO Physician on Call.
  • For general information regarding the ECMO Program you may call 336-713-2894 to speak with the ECMO Program Coordinator.

Information for Parents and Families

News & Highlights

Smoking cigarettes is a dangerous habit that many are struggling to break, but for the smokers who choose to use one of...

MORE

Despite a growing number of cities instituting smoking bans across the country, hookah bars are cropping up everywhere...

MORE

The 2011-2012 Best Doctors in America® database includes 288 physicians from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical...

MORE

ECMO Program Recognized as Center of ExcellenceWINSTON SALEM, N.C. – The Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)...

MORE

 Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is listed as one of “America's Best Hospitals” in five categories in...

MORE

More Heart Center News »
WFBMC News Archive »

Last Updated 3/28/2012
Quick Reference
The Heart Center
New Patients
336-716-WAKE
888-716-WAKE
Returning Patients
336-716-6674
Find a Doctor

e.g., "allergy," "diabetes"

US News Best Hospital AwardANCC Magnet Association AwardBest Doctors 2011-2012 AwardConsumer Choice #1 Award 2011-2102US News Best Medical Schools 2011 Award

Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, evaluation or care from your physician or other qualified health care provider.