Information for Patients and Caregivers

What is extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R?)

Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R) provides an alternative or supplement to mechanical ventilation by removing carbon dioxide directly from the blood using techniques similar to kidney dialysis. The procedure can be performed as part of comprehensive treatment for acute respiratory failure in the intensive care unit.

ECCO2R in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)


ECCO2R in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

The global incidence of acute respiratory failure exceeds 1 million cases per year. Many patients with respiratory failure require the assistance of a ventilator to provide life sustaining oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal. Unfortunately, the injured lung is susceptible to additional damage by the positive pressure exerted by the ventilator, leading to additional injury, complications, and increased mortality.

Reducing ventilator pressures has been one of the most important interventions shown to improve outcomes in these critically ill patients. Use of these lung-protective ventilation strategies in which the ventilator is “turned down” can lead to a critical accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood. ECCO2R allows carbon dioxide to be removed from the blood independently of the failing lungs with an extracorporeal device in a manner similar to kidney dialysis, thus enabling implementation of safer mechanical ventilation settings.

The Hemolung RAS

The first fully-integrated Respiratory Dialysis® system, the Hemolung RAS combines advanced technology with user-centered design to provide simple, effective, and minimally invasive extracorporeal COremoval (ECCO2R).Removing carbon dioxide and delivering oxygen directly to the blood allows the patient’s lungs to rest and heal while avoiding intubation and/or facilitating protective ventilation.