Fresenius Medical Care, a global provider of dialysis products and services, is showcasing its innovative products to support critical care and dialysis patients at the third China International Import Expo, running from Nov 5-10 in Shanghai.

The company is demonstrating its new extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) life support machine. It is also presenting DiaSmart, an intelligent therapy management system, which is expected to help healthcare professionals better manage and deliver care for dialysis and critical care patients, according to Fresenius.

ECMO and COVID-19

During the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan earlier this year, Fresenius Medical Care provided the city with 25 ECMO machines to help cure critically ill patients.

ECMO machines provide cardiopulmonary support to patients by draining deoxygenated blood from the patient's circulatory system, then oxygenating the blood outside the body before infusing it into the patient's circulatory system.

As ECMO machines were used to support patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with the novel coronavirus, ECMO technology was put in the public spotlight and has been adopted by several COVID-19-dedicated hospitals in China.

According to a diagnosis and treatment protocol for COVID-19 published by China's National Health Commission, ECMO treatment should be adopted as soon as possible (unless contraindicated) for critically ill patients who continue to deteriorate or are with poor curative effect despite use of mechanical ventilation. The diagnosis and treatment protocol also notes that delayed use of ECMO may result in poor prognosis.

Vision in China

Fresenius Medical Care has been supporting healthcare professionals in China for many years by providing advanced and innovative technologies in terms of dialysis and critical care.

The company is notable for its complete dialysis solutions, which include dialysis machines, consumables and water systems.

Looking ahead, Fresenius is introducing DiaSmart in China, aiming to offer smart therapy data management systems to hospitals and clinics to help cure dialysis and critical care patients.

The new machine and technological advancements showcased at the CIIE are just the beginning, according to Alan Chen, executive vice-president of Fresenius Medical Care Greater China.

"China is one of the important markets for Fresenius Medical Care. As a strong partner, we are committed to supporting China with continued innovation in products and services to create a better future for dialysis and critical care patients," Chen said.