Next-Gen Emergency Care: MGM Healthcare Unveils ICU-Grade Heart–Lung Ambulance with ECMO Equipment
Chennai, December 7, 2025: MGM Healthcare has launched its state-of-the-art Mobile ECMO Unit, an advanced emergency service that delivers ICU-level heart and lung support directly at the patient’s location. Designed for rapid on-site stabilisation in cases of severe cardiac or respiratory failure, the unit aims to significantly improve survival by reducing delays in initiating life-saving care.
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| (L to R) Dr. Suresh Rao, Co-Director, Institute of Heart & Lung Transplant; Dr Senati Nanda Kishore, Clinical Director, Senior Consultant & Clinical Lead, Anaesthesiology and Surgical ICU; Dr.K.R.Balakrishnan, Director of Heart & Lung Transplantation, MGM Hospitals |
The service was inaugurated by ACP P.K. Ravi, Mr. M.K. Mohan, MLA, Anna Nagar, and Dr. Rajesh, Managing Trustee, ALERT Foundation, in the presence of Dr. K. R. Balakrishnan, Director of Heart & Lung Transplantation, Dr. Suresh Rao, Co-Director, Institute of Heart & Lung Transplant, and Dr Senathi Nanda Kishore, Clinical Director, Senior Consultant & Clinical Lead, Anaesthesiology and Surgical ICU, MGM Healthcare.
Launch Youtube video Link 👇
ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) provides temporary heart–lung support by circulating blood outside the body through an artificial membrane for oxygenation. It is used for critical conditions such as cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, severe heart attacks, massive pulmonary embolism, ARDS, advanced pneumonia, and uncontrolled respiratory failure. Alongside the launch, MGM Healthcare also conducted an advanced CME focused on emergency and critical care beyond CPR and inotropes.
According to Dr. Senathi Nanda Kishore, timely ECMO access can be life-saving, especially for patients in remote locations where delays risk irreversible organ damage or cardiac arrest. “The new Mobile ECMO Unit bridges that gap by bringing expert clinicians and life-saving technology directly to the patient,” he said.
Dr. K. R. Balakrishnan emphasised that ECMO is often the last resort when all other resuscitative efforts fail. “By deploying a skilled ECMO team through a fully equipped mobile unit, we can initiate support sooner and improve outcomes for the sickest patients,” he noted.
Calling the initiative a major advancement in emergency critical care, Dr. Suresh Rao added that the Mobile ECMO Unit will enable faster response for severe heart or lung failure, ARDS, pulmonary embolism, and advanced pneumonia. “By extending ICU-level intervention to remote locations, this service has the potential to transform survival rates,” he said.
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