TriStar Centennial brings lifesaving heart care to surrounding communities through ECPR
Seven years ago, TriStar Centennial Medical Center launched its advanced Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program, offering a beacon of hope for patients facing severe heart and lung failure. Since our program began, we have treated more than 600 patients. In recent years, TriStar Centennial saw a need to help more patients outside the walls of the hospital and established an ECPR (Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) program. Today, we celebrate this milestone by sharing a remarkable story of survival and collaboration that exemplifies the power of our program and the dedication of our team.
In January 2025, 22-year-old Alyson Ziegler suddenly experienced heart palpitations that did not go away at her Robertson County home. Her dad's quick call to 911 led to immediate care at TriStar NorthCrest Medical Center, where she suffered a respiratory and cardiac arrest. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the ER physician immediately contacted TriStar Centennial for ECMO services.
Our specialized ECMO team, a multidisciplinary group of cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, intensivists, perfusion specialists, and nurses, deployed rapidly to TriStar NorthCrest. They performed a remote cannulation at Alyson's bedside, connecting her to ECMO. Despite a snowstorm complicating transport, Robertson County EMS transported Alyson safely to TriStar Centennial with our specialized team onboard.
After only 12 hours on ECMO, Alyson was awake and neurologically intact. This incredible outcome is a testament to the seamless collaboration, advanced technology, dedicated transport teams and remote support that defines our ECMO program. Across the TriStar Health family, our ECMO team is a vital resource when every moment counts.
Join us in celebrating Alyson’s recovery and the incredible impact our ECMO unit has on saving lives. #ECMOSurvivor #TriStarCentennial #MiracleStory #HeartCare
See Alyson's story here on YouTube.