en.wikipedia.org
ECMO is also used to support patients with the acute viral
pneumonia associated with
COVID-19 in cases where
artificial ventilation is not sufficient to sustain blood oxygenation levels.
Use in COVID-19 patients
Beginning in early February 2020, doctors in China have increasingly been using ECMO as an adjunct support for patients presenting with acute viral pneumonia associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) when, even after ventilation, the blood oxygenation levels remain too low to sustain the patient. The initial reports indicate that it is assisting in restoring patients' blood oxygen saturation and reducing fatalities among the approximately 3% of severe cases where it has been utilized.
It is more invasive than just having an O2 mask as it needs to be plumbed into the blood circulatory system and kept highly monitored. - If used It'd be used on critical care patients - i.e. Level 3
Level 0 (Patients whose needs can be met through normal WARD care in an acute hospital)
Level 1 (PATIENTS at risk of their condition deteriorating, or those recently relocated from higher levels of care, whose needs can be met on an acute WARD with additional advice and support from the critical care team.)
Level 2 (PATIENTS requiring more detailed observation or intervention including support for a single failing organ system or post-operative care and those 'stepping down' from higher levels of care.)
Level 3 (PATIENTS requiring advanced respiratory support alone or monitoring and support for two or more organ systems. This level includes all complex PATIENTS requiring support for multi-organ failure.)