Doctor Peng Zhiyong treats a patient infected with the novel coronavirus in Wuhan on Feb 1, 2020. [Photo by Gao Xiang/For China Daily]

The use of advanced medical equipment to treat seriously ill patients with the novel coronavirus has played a major role in reducing the fatality rate, experts said on Feb 12. Among the equipment is the ECMO machine, or extracorporeal Membrance Oxygenation.

Among the equipment is the ECMO machine, or extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. Zhou Jun, Party chief of the China Japan Friendship Hospital, said they have transported more than $ 2.1 million worth of medical equipment to treat the seriously ill patients in Wuhan, including the ECMO and other life-support equipment.

"They have played a very positive role in treating severe symptoms and lowering the fatality rate," he said. The ECMO is a life-support machine designed to replace the function of the heart and lungs of seriously ill patients.

"Patients with novel coronavirus have noticeable damage in their respiratory system, and if we can use ECMO to pump oxygen into their bloom streams, it will help their lungs rest and recover faster," said Ma Xin, vice-president of Huashan hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai.

However, it is such a highly advanced and expensive machine that even some of the biggest hospitals in Wuhan can only afford one at a time.

Han Ding, the vice-president of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that in addition to the ECMO, other life support systems such as those for kidneys and metabolism are also playing an important role in treating the severely ill patients.