From the Guidelines
Extracorporeal blood oxygenation and ozonation is not recommended as a standard medical treatment due to insufficient scientific evidence supporting its safety and efficacy, and significant risks associated with the procedure. This procedure involves removing blood from a patient, exposing it to ozone gas, and then reinfusing it into the body. Despite claims that it can treat various conditions including infections, cancer, and autoimmune diseases, there is limited evidence supporting its use.
Key Considerations
- The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for severe acute respiratory failure (ARF) in adults is growing rapidly, but its use should be conducted in centers with sufficient experience, volume, and expertise to ensure it is used safely 1.
- ECMO is a complex, high-risk, and costly modality, and its use should be approached with caution until further evidence is available 1.
- The procedure carries significant risks including blood clotting, infection, air embolism, and oxidative damage to blood cells.
- Ozone is a highly reactive gas that can damage biological tissues through oxidative stress.
Recommendations
- Conventional medical treatments with proven efficacy and safety profiles should be used instead of extracorporeal blood oxygenation and ozonation.
- If you're seeking alternative treatments for a specific condition, consult with a licensed healthcare provider who can recommend evidence-based options appropriate for your situation.
- Medical regulatory bodies including the FDA have not approved this therapy for any medical condition, and its use should be approached with caution 1.
From the Research
Extracorporeal Blood Oxygenation and Ozonation
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a technique that provides oxygenation of blood and elimination of carbon dioxide in patients with life-threatening conditions 2.
- ECMO can be used as a respiratory support (venovenous ECMO) or as a cardiac and/or respiratory support (venoarterial ECMO) 2, 3.
- The use of ECMO has been increasing, with over 900 patients treated in the Stockholm programme by 2014, and a survival to hospital discharge rate of 81% for respiratory ECMO in neonates, 70% in paediatric patients, and 63% in adult patients 3.
- Extracorporeal blood oxygenation and ozonation (EBOO) is a technique that combines blood oxygenation with ozonation, and has shown promising results in preliminary studies, including the disappearance of lipomas and therapeutic effects in patients with atherosclerotic vasculopathy 4.
- EBOO has been found to be clinically valid, without side-effects, and worthy of testing in various diseases 4.
Indications and Contraindications
- ECMO is indicated for patients with severe respiratory failure who have failed to respond to conventional therapies, with inclusion criteria including PaO2 / FiO2 < 80 for at least 3 hours or pH < 7.25 for at least 3 hours 2.
- ECMO can also be used in patients with cardiac failure, including those with cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest 5, 6.
- Contraindications for ECMO include patients with irreversible brain damage or other irreversible organ damage 2.
Outcomes and Complications
- The outcomes of ECMO therapy can vary depending on the indication and patient population, but overall survival rates have been improving in recent years 3, 6.
- Complications of ECMO therapy can include bleeding, thrombosis, and infection, as well as complications related to the insertion and management of the ECMO circuit 2, 5.