life support

[/laɪf səˈpɔrt/]
nounpl: life support systems
suporte de vida
1. Medical equipment and procedures that maintain vital bodily functions when a person cannot do so naturally
The patient was placed on life support after the accident.
O paciente foi colocado em suporte de vida após o acidente.
2. Essential resources or assistance needed to keep something or someone functioning
The company is on life support due to financial difficulties.
A empresa está em suporte de vida devido a dificuldades financeiras.
3. Systems that provide oxygen and regulate other vital functions in spacecraft or submarines
The spacecraft's life support system failed during the mission.
O sistema de suporte de vida da nave espacial falhou durante a missão.
The term 'life support' carries significant medical, legal, and ethical implications in both Brazilian and American contexts, particularly regarding end-of-life decisions and family consent. In Brazil, discussions about life support involve bioethicists, medical councils (CFM), and family members, reflecting the country's emphasis on collective decision-making in healthcare matters.
NYC Slang
on the vent (colloquial reference to being on a ventilator)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
artificial respirationmechanical ventilationlife-sustaining treatmentlife-saving measures
Antonyms / Antônimos
withdrawal of supportdisconnectionnatural death

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
suporte de vida
Standard medical term used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
aparelho de suporte de vida
More descriptive, emphasizing the equipment aspect
São Paulo
suporte vital
Abbreviated version commonly used in hospitals
Portugal
suporte de vida
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; also 'equipamento de manutenção de vida'

Related Words

ventilatorrespiratorcardiac supportdialysisICUemergency care

Related Idioms & Phrases

pull the plug on life support
on life support (figurative: barely surviving)
connected to life support
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