Families and loved ones play incredibly important roles helping patients during and after ECMO treatment.
Whether the need for ECMO was an anticipated or an unexpected event, it can be overwhelming and confronting.
Patients receiving ECMO treatment are extremely well cared for and during such a challenging time, it is important not to ignore your own care and to continue to look after yourself. Emotions can often be overwhelming especially in the early phase of ECMO support, but illness often takes much longer to recover.
Good self-care gives you the best chance of being part of the recovery later on and handling all eventualities that may arise. Strategies that help with self-care include maintaining relationships away from hospital, developing routines, eating well and exercising and asking for help from others.
VECMOS patient brochure - If you have a patient or loved one who might benefit from reading more on ECMO and the Victorian ECMO Service.
Our patients typically spend longer in ICU when they receive ECMO, so patients and their families become quite familiar to this unique environment over time.
Coming into to visit your loved one for the first time can be overwhelming, you’ll see lots of equipment which has been carefully arranged near the bedside of a patient on ECMO support.
Family members and carers play a key role in the patient recovery process, even though your loved one might not be awake knowing you’re there with them provides great comfort.
ECMO is a powerful therapy that can be life saving, but the treatment itself can be challenging both on the patients, their families and loved ones
