New Life-Saving Technology Expands Critical Care on the Eastside
When a patient's heart and lungs start failing, every second matters. This can happen for many reasons, including a heart attack, shock and severe pneumonia complications. And when it does happen, access to the right care can be the difference between life and death.
That’s why Overlake has added extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to its surgical services, expanding access to this advanced form of life support.
“ECMO saves lives,” said Robert Riley, MD, interventional cardiologist. “It gives more time to people who are nearly out of time.”
What is ECMO?
ECMO can help people experiencing heart and/or lung failure. The machine pumps blood out of the patient's body, adds oxygen to it and removes carbon dioxide, and then pumps the blood back into the patient's body. ECMO takes over the work of a person's heart or lungs, giving those organs time to heal and recover.
“Overlake regularly uses a version of ECMO for heart bypass surgeries,” Dr. Riley said. “But using it to support critically ill patients is a newer development.”
A Highly Skilled Team Behind the Care
Providing ECMO takes more than just advanced technology — it takes a highly skilled, coordinated care team.
Overlake’s specialized cardiovascular surgery team members, including dedicated nurses and surgeons, are ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Whether it’s a planned procedure or an emergency situation, the team works seamlessly together with one shared focus: giving patients the best possible outcome.
Expanding Access to Life-Saving Care
Overlake launched its ECMO program in 2025. Today, ECMO is used to quickly stabilize critically ill patients, giving them the best possible chance while they continue receiving care.
The program is already seeing strong results, with survival rates exceeding national averages.
“People benefit the most when they get ECMO early on in their care,” Dr. Riley said. “So now we are working to identify who may benefit from ECMO early so we can intervene as quickly as possible.”
The benefits of having access to ECMO at Overlake are clear — and part of our commitment to providing excellent care on the Eastside.
“The patients who need ECMO are so sick, they are racing against the clock to receive care quickly,” Dr. Riley said. “So it's critically important for Overlake to be able to offer this service. It has already saved lives.”
Overlake Medical Center offers leading-edge cardiology care close to home for families in Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah and surrounding areas. Learn more about our Heart and Vascular Center.
