Deciding about treatments that prolong life: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

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Deciding about treatments that prolong life: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

   
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Deciding about treatments that prolong life

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Sometimes after injury or a long illness, the primary organs of the body no longer work properly without support. Your doctor may tell you that these organs will not repair themselves.
Medical care to prolong life can keep you alive when these organs stop working well.

• The treatments extend your life but do not cure your illness.
• These are called life-sustaining treatments.

Treatments to extend life can include the use of machines. This equipment does the work of the body organ. Examples include:

• A machine to help breathing (ventilator)
• A machine to help your kidneys (dialysis)
• A tube into your stomach to provide food (nasogastric or gastrostomy tube)
• A tube into your vein to provide fluids and medicines (also called intravenous tube)
• A tube or mask to supply oxygen