lifesupporting

Life-supporting, often written as life-supporting or life-support, is an adjective describing devices, systems, or conditions that sustain essential biological functions when an organism cannot sustain them independently. In medicine, life-supporting interventions preserve breathing, circulation, metabolism, or neurological function long enough to allow recovery or to maintain viability until a more definitive treatment is possible. The term encompasses equipment, procedures, and supportive care rather than curative therapies alone.

Key examples include mechanical ventilation, which provides or supports breathing; cardiopulmonary bypass and other circulatory support devices; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO); renal replacement therapy such as dialysis; and artificial nutrition and hydration in select circumstances. Temperature control, blood pressure support, and implantable rhythm devices can also be life-supporting under certain conditions. The boundary between life-support, life-sustaining treatment, and standard care varies by clinical context, patient prognosis, and local guidelines.

Beyond healthcare facilities, life-supporting systems are essential in spaceflight, submarines, and deep-sea habitats. Space life-support systems manage air composition, temperature, humidity, water, food, and waste, enabling humans to survive in hostile environments.

Ethical and legal considerations surround initiation, continuation, and withdrawal of life-supporting care, especially when prognosis is poor or patient autonomy must be balanced with family and societal interests. Advance directives, physician-assisted decisions, and regulatory frameworks influence practice.