Gregory A. Schmidt
Editor

2016

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) consists of using an external gas-exchanging membrane to support oxygenation or carbon dioxide removal (or both), at times including circulatory assistance. ECLS has been used in severe hypoxemic respiratory failure (ARDS, pneumonia); diseases dominated by ventilatory failure such as status asthmaticus and COPD; cardiogenic shock; following cardiothoracic surgery complicated by circulatory or gas exchange failure; and as a bridge to lung transplant.