extracorporeal

adjective

ex·​tra·​cor·​po·​re·​al ˌek-strə-kȯr-ˈpȯr-ē-əl How to pronounce extracorporeal (audio)
: occurring or based outside the living body
the heart-lung machine maintains extracorporeal circulation during heart surgery
extracorporeally adverb

Examples of extracorporeal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In 2020 a randomized clinical trial of this approach, known as extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR), at the University of Minnesota showed that the technique resulted in a survival rate of 43 percent, compared with 7 percent in standard care. Erica Westly, Scientific American, 27 Nov. 2023 She was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with pneumonia and sepsis, experienced organ failure, and was placed on an extreme form of life support called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for five days. Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 9 Nov. 2023 The second case involved a man between 60 and 69 years old, known as patient B, who also received a left lung transplant on the same day from the same donor as patient A. Patient B faced several post-surgery issues, like requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and kidney therapy. Sandra Rose Salathe, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2023 Researchers studied the effects of gentler shockwaves on human tissue for decades to come, and by the 1980s, physicians were using something called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) to pulverize patients’ kidney stones. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2023 So doctors at Columbia University Irving Medical Center took her off the ventilator after about a day and hooked her to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine, or ECMO, which pumped blood from her body, removed carbon dioxide from it and sent oxygen-rich blood flowing back into her. BostonGlobe.com, 27 Mar. 2021 Michael was put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, a form of life support for patients with life-threatening illness or injury that affects the function of their heart or lungs. The Indianapolis Star, 13 Jan. 2023 The government investigation said doctors placed Dr. Li on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Chris Buckley, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2022 He was put on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine, which is a form of life support. Maggie O'Neill, SELF, 21 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'extracorporeal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of extracorporeal was in 1865

Dictionary Entries Near extracorporeal

Cite this Entry

“Extracorporeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extracorporeal. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

extracorporeal

adjective
ex·​tra·​cor·​po·​re·​al -kȯr-ˈpōr-ē-əl, -ˈpȯr- How to pronounce extracorporeal (audio)
: occurring or based outside the living body
heart surgery employing extracorporeal circulation
extracorporeally adverb
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