One year ago, University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) launched a program that would change the future of critical care in the Borderland. On January, UMC marks the first anniversary of its Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program, a milestone defined not just by numbers, but by lives saved.
UMC is the only hospital in the region offering ECMO, an advanced form of life support used when the heart and lungs can no longer function on their own. Over the past year, the program has become a lifeline for patients facing the most severe respiratory and cardiac emergencies.
The impact was powerful, as 19-year-old ECMO patient Diego Caballero returned to UMC, walking through its doors full of life just one week after being discharged. Surrounded by his family, Diego reunited with the ECMO team he credits with saving his life.
Diego was admitted to UMC after suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, a condition that critically compromised his heart function. His recovery required ECMO support—technology that temporarily takes over the work of the heart and lungs by oxygenating the blood and removing carbon dioxide.
“My heart strength was at five percent; it wasn’t pumping correctly,” said Diego. “I’m very thankful because if it weren’t for that machine, I probably wouldn’t have recovered. I’m grateful to the machine for keeping me alive and to the doctors for everything they did.”
ECMO is used to treat patients experiencing severe respiratory or cardiac failure caused by conditions such as pneumonia, trauma, or heart disease. For patients like Diego, it can mean the difference between life and death.
When UMC’s ECMO program launched on Jan. 30, 2025, the team anticipated treating approximately 12 patients in its first year. Instead, the program exceeded expectations, caring for 30 patients during its inaugural year—more than doubling initial projections.
Before the program’s launch, patients in need of ECMO had to be transported hundreds of miles away, with the closest center located in Albuquerque. Today, UMC provides ECMO services to patients across a 300-mile radius, ensuring faster access to lifesaving care close to home.
As UMC celebrates this one-year milestone, the ECMO program stands as a testament to innovation, expertise, and commitment to the community. The hospital is proud of the lifesaving work accomplished by the ECMO team and looks ahead to continuing to deliver critical, high-level care to the region for years to come.
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