Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy has been in the limelight during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
This was due to its live-saving importance by improving the oxygenation, while providing pulmonary tissues adequate healing time, in patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by the viral infection.
However, ECMO therapy had started gaining wider acceptance among critical care physicians post the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. The driver was the consecutive generation of clinical trial evidence and multiple research studies proving its benefits to respiratory failure compared to conventional ventilation.
The ECMO market is expected to grow gradually, in mid-single digits. This is in the backdrop of increasing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cases and mainstream ECMO therapy adoption due to its beneficial role as a bridge to recovery, transplant, or ventricular assist device (VAD) for cardiopulmonary conditions. Other major factors driving ECMO adoption are currently low market penetration or installed base, higher incidences of key indications for ECMO therapy, advancements in technology, and poor outcomes from conventional therapies like mechanical ventilation.