Life After ECMO
What to Expect and How We're Learning Together
Key Points
ECMO saves lives, but the road to recovery can be long and complex.
Most survivors live for years after ECMO, and many return to work and regain independence.
Recovery often includes physical, emotional, and social challenges that need ongoing support.
Early rehabilitation, mental health care, and social support play a big role in long-term outcomes.
ECMO programs around the world are working to better understand survivors needs and improve follow-up care.
If you or someone you love has been on ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation), you’ve faced one of the most intense treatments modern medicine can offer. ECMO takes over the work of your heart and lungs, giving your body time to heal when nothing else works.
It’s a powerful therapy, and more and more adults are not only surviving, but going home and reclaiming their lives. But that’s where the next chapter begins.
For many survivors and families, the big question is: What happens after ECMO? Recovery doesn’t stop at discharge. Doctors and researchers now focus on something called quality of life—how well a person is able to live, work, connect, and feel well in the months and years that follow.
A Promising Outlook on Survival
Studies show that most ECMO survivors go on to live for years after treatment. In one large study, two-thirds of patients survived hospital discharge. Among those survivors, about 85% were still alive nearly three years later.
For people who were on VV-ECMO, which supports the lungs, survival rates continue to look encouraging. Almost 90% of these patients were still alive six months after leaving the hospital, and most remained alive a year later. Long-term follow-ups have even shown some VV-ECMO survivors doing well nearly a decade after their ICU stay.
Recovery after VA-ECMO, which supports both the heart and lungs, can be more complicated, especially in the first six months. Many patients in this group face early challenges, including the risk of new physical disabilities. But researchers have noticed something hopeful: between six and twelve months after ECMO, more patients begin regaining independence in daily activities like bathing, dressing, and walking. Even if the early phase is hard, things often start to improve with time.
Getting Back to Life
For many people, recovery isn’t just about staying alive. It’s about being able to return to work, enjoy time with others, and feel like themselves again.
In one study of VV-ECMO survivors, about 80% were able to return to their jobs. Another study that looked at all ECMO types found lower overall employment rates, just under 40%. Social challenges also came up, with more than half of the patients saying they had trouble returning to normal social activities. Despite these differences, most survivors were able to care for themselves again. In fact, more than 70% regained full independence in daily life.
These numbers vary because no two ECMO stories are alike. The type of ECMO, the severity of illness, and age all play a role. So does whether someone had already retired or was physically active before getting sick.
The Realities of Recovery
While it’s incredible to survive a critical illness, many ECMO survivors find that daily life has changed. Physical challenges are common. Some patients report pain or reduced movement in their legs or feet, which may be linked to where the ECMO tubes (called cannulas) were placed. Others notice less energy, changes in strength, or difficulty with activities that used to feel easy.
Still, there’s some encouraging news—especially for those who had VV-ECMO. Compared to patients with severe lung failure who never received ECMO, VV-ECMO survivors may actually do better in the long term. That’s because ECMO can allow doctors to use lower-pressure ventilator settings, which may help protect the lungs and reduce future complications.
Mental health is another major part of recovery. Some survivors experience symptoms of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), anxiety, or depression. In one study, nearly a third of ECMO survivors were at high risk for PTSD. Other studies show lower rates, depending on the country and how support systems are set up. Over time, many survivors report improvement in their emotional well-being, especially with access to mental health care and community support.
What Shapes the Recovery Journey?
A few key factors seem to make a difference in how recovery unfolds.
One is the reason ECMO was needed in the first place. People who were placed on ECMO due to certain lung conditions or graft issues tended to have better long-term outcomes.
How long someone was on ECMO also matters, especially with VV-ECMO. Longer ECMO runs are associated with lower survival rates after discharge. And while pre-existing conditions like liver disease or lung scarring can raise the risk of dying in the hospital, these health issues don’t seem to affect long-term survival as much for those who make it home.
Social support plays a big role, too. Having a spouse or close caregiver often helps, but it can also be emotionally draining for both people. In some cases, the burden on caregivers may even affect the survivor’s emotional well-being.
Returning to work, connecting with others, and having access to healthcare resources all contribute to a better quality of life. Where a person lives—urban or rural—can affect access to follow-up care and rehabilitation services.
What Needs to Improve?
We’re learning more every year about how to support ECMO survivors beyond the ICU. Several steps are now being recommended by researchers and care teams:
Ongoing follow-up is essential. Survivors benefit from regular check-ins, rehabilitation programs, and mental health support tailored to their needs. Some programs are exploring the idea of dedicated ECMO clinics—places where survivors can access physical therapy, psychological care, and even telehealth visits from home.
Early recovery support is especially important for patients who had VA-ECMO. Since many physical and emotional challenges develop in the first six months, this period needs more attention and monitoring.
Listening to patients’ voices is key. Numbers and survival rates are helpful, but personal stories offer a richer picture of what life is like after ECMO. By understanding what matters most to survivors, care teams can better support long-term recovery.
More global research is needed. Recovery doesn’t look the same in every country or community. Healthcare quality, cultural expectations, and access to services all influence outcomes.
Our Journey Continues - YANA
ECMO saves lives—and that alone is worth celebrating. But as many survivors will tell you, life after ECMO is its own kind of journey. It comes with both hope and hardship, progress and patience.
The good news is that you are not alone (YANA). Survivors, families, doctors, and researchers are working together to understand what recovery really means and how to make it better for everyone.
Your story, your voice, and your journey matter. You’re helping shape the future of ECMO care for yourself and for others walking this road behind you.
Please check my article Helping ECMO Patients Heal: Resources for Survivors, Family, and Practitioners, which lists resources to help with your recovery journey.