Bridging to lung transplantation with extracorporeal circulatory support: when or when not?

Patients with end-stage lung disease who are candidates for lung transplantation may acutely decompensate before a donor organ becomes available. In this scenario, extracorporeal life support (ECLS) may be considered as a bridge to transplant or as a bridge to decision. In the current chapter, we review the indications, techniques, and outcomes for bridging to lung transplantation with ECLS.