Texas Hospital Pioneers Mobile ECMO Program That Doubles Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates

Revolutionary Technology Changes the Game for Heart Attack Patients

When Rick Armijo collapsed in cardiac arrest at his home, his chances of survival were less than 9%. In less than 45 minutes, Armijo was connected to the ECMO. "His heart wasn't pumping at all. So, this machine was an artificial heart for him," explained medical staff at Medical City Plano. Today, Armijo is alive thanks to a groundbreaking program that's transforming emergency cardiac care across North Texas.

Medical City Plano is using advanced ECMO technology to give cardiac arrest patients a second chance at life, becoming the only mobile ECMO-CPR center in North Texas. The hospital's extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) program represents a dramatic shift in how medical teams approach cardiac emergencies, combining traditional CPR with sophisticated life-support technology that can temporarily replace heart and lung function.

In simple terms, ECMO temporarily takes over the work of the heart and lungs by mechanically circulating and oxygenating blood outside the body. This gives doctors precious time to address the underlying causes of cardiac arrest while protecting vital organs from damage.

Field-to-Hospital Integration Saves Critical Minutes

What makes Medical City Plano's program unique is its integration with emergency medical services. Starting in April, paramedics in the field will be able to activate ECPR teams at both Medical City Frisco and Medical City Plano while transporting eligible cardiac arrest patients. This seamless coordination eliminates the typical delays that can mean the difference between life and death.

"What people may or may not realize is that minutes really matter," Pellecchia said. "And so, the ability for this program to be activated from the field and not wait... we're able to get people the support they need very quickly." The program allows paramedics to assess whether patients meet specific criteria and activate the specialized ECMO team before reaching the hospital.

The treatment is available to patients ages 18 to 75 who meet specific clinical criteria, broadening access to advanced care across adult age groups. This is the only mobile ECPR program in North Texas and the only intra-system program in the country.

Impressive Results Challenge Medical Standards

The numbers speak for themselves. According to Medical City Plano, the ECMO program has been used 23 times and resulted in a survival rate double the national average. "If you have the shockable rhythm without ECMO, survival to leaving the hospital is less than 9% with a good neuro brain function," Medical City Plano Medical Director of ECMO Dr. The Medical City ECMO team says since going live last December, they're at 55 to 60%.

Medical City Plano is proud to be recognized as a Platinum Level Center of Excellence by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) the highest international honor for ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) therapy. The in-hospital and out-of-hospital programs' quality outcomes and survival rates are better than ELSO benchmarks and among the top in the world for both respiratory and cardiac support.

The Future of Emergency Cardiac Care

Recent clinical trials have shown even more promising results. Funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) supported this research — published in The Lancet — as the first clinical trial in the world to show a significant increase in survival rate among patients experiencing cardiac arrest who received treatment from the life-support machine known as ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). "ECMO proved to be so much more effective — in fact, patients were six times more likely to survive with ECMO — than the standard treatment for cardiac arrest that the trial was stopped early after enrolling just 30 of the expected 77 patients," according to University of Minnesota researchers.

As this technology spreads to other medical centers, it could fundamentally change how hospitals approach cardiac emergencies. The success at Medical City Plano demonstrates that when advanced technology meets coordinated care, the impossible becomes possible. For patients like Rick Armijo, these innovations represent not just medical advances, but second chances at life itself.