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ECLS as a Bridge to Lung Transplantation

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Extracorporeal Life Support for Adults

Part of the book series: Respiratory Medicine ((RM,volume 16))

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Abstract

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) brings several advantages to patients awaiting lung transplantation or recovering from the operation. First, it can serve as a bridge to transplantation, supporting organ function and, at times, obviating the need for mechanical ventilation. By helping to keep patients extubated and ambulatory, ECLS may reduce complications and improve outcomes. Even when mechanical ventilation is required, ECLS may afford more lung-protective strategies than would be possible otherwise, or facilitate a more awake and mobile patient.

Venoarterial ECLS can be deployed successfully for postoperative primary graft failure following lung transplantation, protecting the graft from injurious ventilator settings. It has also been used following lung transplantation for patients with pulmonary hypertension as a means to unload the left ventricle, buying time for ventricular remodeling as the chamber begins to accommodate its newly increased blood flow.

Based in technological innovation and clinical advances, ECLS has become safer, simpler, and more widely available. It is now an essential tool for the transplant team.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Privatdozent Dr. med., Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany

    Christian Kuehn MD

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  1. Christian Kuehn MD
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Correspondence to Christian Kuehn MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine, University of Iowa, Department of Internal Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

    Gregory A Schmidt

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Kuehn, C. (2016). ECLS as a Bridge to Lung Transplantation. In: Schmidt, G. (eds) Extracorporeal Life Support for Adults. Respiratory Medicine, vol 16. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3005-0_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3005-0_5

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3004-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3005-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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