Dr. Robert Bartlett: The Father of ECMO
Dr. Robert Bartlett is recognized as the "Father of ECMO" for his pioneering work in establishing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for human use in the early 1970s. 1
Historical Development of ECMO
- ECMO evolved from cardiopulmonary bypass technology first successfully applied by John Gibbon in 1953, which was later modified to allow for prolonged extracorporeal circulation in intensive care settings 2
- Dr. Bartlett's groundbreaking work in the early 1970s established ECMO as a viable life support technology for humans 1
- Since its inception, ECMO has undergone significant technological advancements, resulting in improved survival rates and expanded clinical applications 1
- While initially developed for adults, ECMO has historically been most successful in treating newborn infants with life-threatening pulmonary failure 3
Dr. Bartlett's Contributions
- Dr. Bartlett pioneered the clinical application of ECMO technology for humans, overcoming numerous challenges related to extracorporeal circulation 1
- His work addressed critical issues including coagulation and platelet activation, consumption of coagulation factors, and biocompatibility of ECMO components 1
- Under his guidance, ECMO evolved from an experimental procedure to an established life-saving therapy for severe cardiorespiratory failure 1
Evolution of ECMO Technology
- Since Dr. Bartlett's initial work, ECMO technology has advanced tremendously over the past 50 years 1
- The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry reports that of the >50,000 patients registered, 73% have survived extracorporeal life support 4
- Modern ECMO applications have expanded to include postcardiopulmonary bypass support, sepsis management, ECMO cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and treatment of severe COVID-19 1
- Contemporary ECMO provides days to weeks of support for patients with respiratory, cardiac, or combined cardiopulmonary failure 5
Current ECMO Practice
- ECMO use in adults increased by more than 400% from 2006 to 2011 in the United States 5
- The American Thoracic Society now recommends ECMO as a rescue therapy for patients with severe, potentially reversible cardiorespiratory failure when conventional medical therapies have failed 6
- Despite technological advances, complications such as bleeding, thrombosis, circuit clot formation, and intravascular hemolysis remain significant challenges 1
- ECMO centers caring for more than 20-25 cases per year have significantly better outcomes than centers with lower volumes 6, 7
Dr. Bartlett's pioneering work established ECMO as a critical life-saving technology that continues to evolve and benefit patients with severe cardiorespiratory failure worldwide.