Extracorporeal lung assistance: the ultimate gentle lung ventilation strategy?

摘要

Severe hypercapnic respiratory failure is a major cause of morbidity and death in many patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, or bronchiolitis oblit-erans . Refractory hypercarbia contributes to severe dyspnea and respiratory muscle fatigue, therefore requiring escalating supportive ventilation.