Global and local specialists share ECMO experience at Dhaka seminar

An international seminar on ECMO was held in Dhaka on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, aiming to expand world-class ECMO services for ICU patients in Bangladesh. The seminar, titled "ECMO: Bangladesh & Global Perspective", was organised by the Acute and Critical Care Physicians Foundation Bangladesh.

ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) is an advanced life-support technology that sustains patients with severe cardiac and respiratory failure by supplying oxygen to the blood and removing carbon dioxide outside the body. For critically ill patients who do not respond to conventional ventilation or treatment, ECMO is often considered a last resort for life-saving support. Experts noted that the planned and appropriate use of this technology could bring transformative change to critical care in Bangladesh.

Delivering the keynote presentation online, K R Ramanathan, a renowned cardiothoracic and ECMO specialist from National University Hospital, shared global experience and international standards relating to ECMO. He highlighted international protocols, patient selection criteria, advanced techniques, and insights from long-term clinical practice.

From a Bangladeshi perspective, current ECMO practices and clinical experiences were presented by Shihan Mahmud Redwanul Haque and Rajiuddin Ahmed from Square Hospital. Their presentations focused on local challenges, case experiences, and key decision-making aspects of ECMO use in the country.

ECMO implementation experiences and challenges were further discussed by Aminur Rahman, Brigadier General (retd), Professor and head of the Critical Care Centre at Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka. He shared practical experiences of introducing ECMO services at CMH, alongside structural limitations and future prospects.

The seminar was chaired and moderated by Rayhan Rabbani, president of the Acute and Critical Care Physicians Foundation Bangladesh. He said: "To make ECMO services sustainable and effective in Bangladesh, trained manpower, well-defined protocols, and coordinated initiatives are essential. International seminars such as this play a vital role in enhancing critical care expertise in the country."

A large number of specialist physicians from respiratory medicine, internal medicine, cardiology, ICU, and critical care disciplines participated in the seminar from across the country. During the panel discussion and question-and-answer session, participants shared their views, experiences, and real-world challenges.

Organised as part of regular educational activities, the international seminar reflected ACCPFB's strong commitment to expanding advanced technologies in critical care, developing skilled human resources, and strengthening international collaboration. Experts believe the initiative will help organise and improve access to ECMO services in the future, marking the beginning of a new chapter in ICU care in Bangladesh.

The programme was moderated by Mehjabin Jahangir. Radiant Pharmaceuticals Limited supported the event as scientific partner.