Meet some of our patients

Jake

In GOSH's 150th anniversary year, another anniversary was celebrated – ten years of ECMO treatment. ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation) is a modified heart and lung machine which supports patients whose heart and/or lungs have failed.

The machine is used to keep patients alive when all other treatments have failed, and to support their heart and/or lungs. It can also be used post-heart surgery to give the heart time to recuperate. ECMO works by oxygenating and pumping blood outside the body, allowing the heart or lungs time to rest.

One such success case is Jake. Featured in last year’s annual report, Jake's chances of survival were put at just five per cent when doctors at GOSH treated him for complications arising from Epstein-Barr virus. Jake was put on ECMO for nine days and is living proof that ECMO works. Back at GOSH for an outpatient's appointment, his mum, Lorraine, said:

"Jake is doing really well. He recently had a cold which set him back a bit, and he was put on beta blockers. These are causing fluid retention which he is being treated for at the moment. It's a long road, but he’s started nursery and is going full-time in September".

The ECMO programme at GOSH was set up in 1992 and has supported over 400 neonates and children. In the last year alone, GOSH has used ECMO on 50 children.

Meet other patients here.