Edwards Lifesciences (EW) S-8 Registration of securities for employees

EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated March 4, 2005 relating to the financial statements, and financial statement schedule, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Orange County, California

August 5, 2005