Support Therapy for Lung Failure: The Utility of Device Therapy

Patients with irreversible lung injury listed for lung transplantation increasingly face the dilemma of requiring a “bridge” to transplantation, which has prompted the development of alternative lung support devices. The utility of extra-corporal lung support to improve outcomes for various indications is still in evolution. We review the indications for lung support and the types of extracorporeal support systems and assess the evidence available for device support therapy for respiratory failure. We conclude that device therapy for reversible lung failure should be decided on an individual patient basis. No generic recommendations can currently be made.