"Artificial life support" refers to a medical treatment technique that involves the use of machines to keep a patient alive when their own body cannot function without such assistance. Some synonyms for this term include mechanical ventilation, life-sustaining therapy, positive-pressure ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Mechanical ventilation is the most common form of artificial life support, which involves a machine that helps the patient to breathe by delivering oxygen into their lungs. Life-sustaining therapy is a broad term that encompasses various medical interventions aimed at maintaining a patient's vital functions. Positive-pressure ventilation and ECMO are specialized forms of artificial life support used in cases of severe respiratory or cardiac failure, respectively.