9. The artificial circulation of blood and movement of air into and out of the lungs in a pulseless, nonbreathing patient. square

The artificial circulation of blood and movement of air into and out of the lungs in a pulseless, nonbreathing patient is known as Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).<br /><br />ECMO is a medical therapy that uses a pump to circulate blood through an external circuit where gas exchange occurs. This allows oxygen to be added to the blood and carbon dioxide to be removed, effectively replacing the function of the patient's lungs and heart.<br /><br />In the context of a pulseless, nonbreathing patient, ECMO can be used as a bridge to more definitive treatment, such as cardiac arrest resuscitation or organ transplantation. It can also be used in cases where the patient's heart or lungs are failing and cannot adequately support the body's oxygen and carbon dioxide needs.<br /><br />The process of ECMO involves the following steps:<br /><br />1. **Vascular Access**: A catheter is inserted into a large blood vessel, typically the femoral vein or artery.<br />2. **Circulatory Loop**: Blood is drawn from the patient's body and pumped through a membrane oxygenator, where gas exchange occurs.<br />3. **Oxygenation**: The blood is oxygenated by the membrane oxygenator, which adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide.<br />4. **Return to the Body**: The oxygenated blood is then returned to the patient's body through the vascular access.<br /><br />ECMO is a complex and specialized treatment that requires careful monitoring and management by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals. It is typically used in critical care settings, such as intensive care units (ICUs) or cardiac catheterization laboratories.