A system for supporting blood gas exchange by means of ventilation and extracorporeal blood gas exchange (10) comprises a ventilator (20) for mechanical ventilation of the lungs of a patient (12), and an ECLS apparatus (50) for the extracorporeal blood gas exchange, wherein the ventilation system (10) is designed to automatically coordinate mechanical respiratory support by the ventilator (20), on the one hand, and an extracorporeal blood gas exchange by the ECLS apparatus (50), on the other hand, in order to support the gas exchange in the blood circulation of the patient, wherein the ECLS apparatus (50) predefines a level of the extracorporeal blood gas exchange, and, on the basis of the level of the extracorporeal blood gas exchange predefined by the ECLS apparatus (50), the ventilator (12) automatically sets itself to a level of the mechanical respiratory support.
