Lewonshe Miller, who was celebrating her 21st birthday in Naples, had a near-death experience when the Jetski she was on flipped due to choppy waves. Subsequently, her lungs filled with saltwater, leading to a life-threatening situation. NCH Dr. Gaston Cudemus described her condition upon arrival at the hospital as severe, requiring the use of an artificial lung in the operating room. The medical team at NCH’s Rooney Heart Institute utilized an ECMO machine, an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation device, which temporarily took over the functions of her heart and lungs. ECMO is typically considered a treatment of last resort and was in high demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article emphasizes the rarity of ECMO machines in Florida and highlights Miller’s rapid recovery through the utilization of this technology. Read More >
WINK News covers NCH’s use of the ECMO machine rapid recovery.
