Management of Adult Extracorporeal Life Support

The use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in adults allows the treatment of primary disease, and it also provides the opportunity to make treatment decisions, transition to transplantation, and long-term ventricular assistance. ECLS technology is relatively mature, and the use of ECLS for circulatory and/or respiratory support is more common in adults than in children. This chapter introduces the management of adult ECLS.