Extracorporeal

Relating to or occurring outside of the body. This term is commonly used in medicine to describe treatments or procedures performed on blood, organs, or tissues that are removed from the patient's body for a period of time. The goal is often to filter, cleanse, support, or modify these bodily components before returning them to the patient. extracorporeal techniques offer life-saving interventions for conditions like kidney failure or severe respiratory distress. The term highlights the departure from internal bodily processes.

Extracorporeal meaning with examples

• A patient suffering from severe kidney failure may require extracorporeal dialysis. The process involves diverting the patient's blood through a machine to filter out waste products. This life-saving procedure helps maintain the patient's electrolyte balance until the kidneys can recover or a transplant can be arranged. This intervention underscores the critical role of extracorporeal techniques in managing acute and chronic conditions.
• During cardiopulmonary bypass, the heart and lungs are temporarily bypassed. extracorporeal circulation is established to oxygenate the blood and keep it circulating throughout the body. The patient's own heart is then repaired or the surgery performed, without the need for it to pump blood. After the procedure, the extracorporeal system is removed.
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides life support for patients with severe respiratory or cardiac failure. The ECMO machine acts as an artificial lung, oxygenating blood and removing carbon dioxide before returning it to the body. This extracorporeal life support gives the lungs or heart time to heal. It's used when conventional treatments have failed to provide sufficient support.
• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) uses shock waves generated outside the body to break up kidney stones. While not involving blood or organ removal, the process is still extracorporeal because the intervention's effects are directed upon the body from the exterior. This procedure is a non-invasive method to remove kidney stones.