A One-Hour Decision Saved a Life... The Power of Andong Hospital's 'ECMO Golden Hour'

Immediate ECMO Activation and Concurrent CRRT upon Transfer
Overcoming Severe Respiratory Failure Through Multidisciplinary Collaboration

A patient suffering from severe acute respiratory failure, whose survival would have been uncertain had treatment been delayed even slightly, was able to return to everyday life thanks to the swift decision-making and advanced critical care capabilities at Andong Medical Foundation Andong Hospital. The decisive judgment and execution that did not miss the 'golden hour' at the crossroads of life and death changed the patient's fate.

Exterior view of Andong Hospital, the northern hub of Gyeongbuk Province

Andong Hospital announced that it immediately activated ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) for a patient who had rapidly deteriorated due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and provided intensive care through a multidisciplinary team approach, resulting in the patient being safely discharged on January 10.

The patient had developed acute respiratory failure while being treated at another medical institution for acute renal failure and declining heart and liver function. Despite mechanical ventilation, the patient's condition became critical, making it difficult to sustain life.

According to the medical staff, the patient's condition was rapidly worsening due to ARDS, and any delay in treatment could have led to fatal consequences. Since recovery could not be expected with medication or mechanical ventilation alone, it was urgent to transfer the patient to a facility capable of immediate ECMO treatment. An emergency transfer was arranged to Andong Hospital, which has a dedicated ECMO team and a critical care system for severe cases.

ECMO is a device that circulates a patient's blood outside the body to supply oxygen and remove carbon dioxide before returning it, often referred to as an 'artificial heart-lung machine.' It is the last-resort life support option for severe patients when conventional treatments have reached their limits.

Andong Hospital ECMO, CRRT Treatment

Immediately after the patient arrived at the hospital on December 4, 2025, the medical team activated ECMO without delay. The patient then underwent advanced intensive care in the intensive care unit, receiving both mechanical ventilation and ECMO, as well as continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), a form of 24-hour continuous dialysis. These measures were taken preemptively to prevent the risk of multi-organ failure.

During the treatment process, Andong Hospital's multidisciplinary collaboration system played a crucial role. Led by attending nephrologist Bang Jonghyo, the thoracic surgery and cardiology departments closely monitored the operation of ECMO and cardiac function, while the infectious disease department managed the patient's high fever and infection symptoms. Dermatology responded immediately to skin complications that arose during treatment, with each department working organically together to overcome the crisis.

As a result of the intensive care, the patient gradually improved, and after 16 days of hospitalization, on December 20, 2025, both ECMO and the mechanical ventilator were removed, and the patient was transferred to a general ward. Following rehabilitation and recovery treatment, the patient was discharged on January 10, 2026, able to return to daily life.

Bang Jonghyo commented, "When the patient arrived, even a one-hour delay would have made it impossible to guarantee a positive outcome. By activating ECMO and CRRT immediately upon arrival, we secured the golden hour, and close cooperation with the supporting departments such as thoracic surgery and cardiology was a decisive factor in preventing complications."

Andong Hospital (Doctor Helicopter)

Kang Sinhong, Chairman of Andong Hospital, stated, "This is a symbolic case in which a regional hub medical institution was able to provide complete treatment for a severe emergency patient within the golden hour. We will continue to strengthen our severe case treatment infrastructure, including ECMO, and multidisciplinary collaboration systems to faithfully fulfill our role as a regional healthcare safety net."

This case demonstrates that a regional hub hospital can take full responsibility for advanced critical patients without relying on large hospitals in the capital area. In life-or-death moments, 'how quickly and accurately decisions are made' determines the outcome of medical care. Andong Hospital's ECMO response is seen as both a demonstration of the potential and a direction for regional healthcare.