In the patient, the infection caused the lungs to liquefy, leading to severe lung failure.[1] The new "total artificial lung" approach provided extracorporeal ECMO support, which provided oxygenation of blood outside the body.[1][5] ECMO replaced lung function by taking blood, oxygenating it, and removing carbon dioxide in an external circuit with a pump and oxygenator.[3][5] This device does not cure the underlying disease, but it gives time for the lungs to regenerate and maintains a sufficient level of oxygen in the blood when even artificial pulmonary ventilation fails.[1][6] The patient was maintained on ECMO until donor lungs became available for bilateral transplantation.[1] Researchers reported that this strategy helped the patient survive the critical period.[1] ECMO is used in severe respiratory failure such as ARDS and requires specially trained personnel.[5][6]