Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in nonsurgical lung conditions

Modern extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has gained a tremendous amount of scientific support for its use in severe acute hypoxemic respiratory failure which has prompted interest in its use for other forms of nonsurgical acute lung failure. Following the publication of clinical trial data and the accumulation of widespread observational data supporting the safety and benefit of ECLS, it has become a critical component of expert consensus algorithms for the management of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. It is anticipated that the use of ECLS for acute nonsurgical lung failure will continue to expand. However, due to the highly specialized nature of ECLS it should ideally be performed only within (or in collaboration with) high volume ECLS centers whose teams have the necessary training, experience, and expertise to achieve optimal patient outcomes.