Lebensunterstützung

Lebensunterstützung, often translated as life support, refers to medical interventions that maintain a person's bodily functions when they are unable to do so themselves. This can include a range of technologies and treatments designed to support vital organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain. The primary goal of life support is to preserve life and provide an opportunity for the patient to recover, or in some cases, to allow for a peaceful passing.

Common forms of life support include mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure, where a machine breathes for the patient. Cardiopulmonary bypass machines can take over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery. Dialysis is used to support kidney function when the kidneys are unable to filter waste from the blood. Medications can be administered to maintain blood pressure and circulation. Nutritional support through feeding tubes or intravenous lines is also a crucial aspect of life support for individuals unable to eat normally.

The decision to initiate, continue, or withdraw life support is often complex and involves medical professionals, the patient (if capable of making decisions), and their family or designated healthcare proxy. Ethical considerations, patient wishes, prognosis, and quality of life are all important factors in these discussions. Life support is typically used in critical care settings, such as intensive care units (ICUs), where patients are closely monitored.