Abstract
The management of patients with concomitant acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can often times be complicated by competing interests of the two disease processes. The use of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) is increasingly becoming a viable option for patients with TBI and respiratory failure who have failed management with traditional ventilatory support. In an analysis of the available literature, we have found VV ECMO to be safe and effective in select patients with TBI. The decision to use VV ECMO should be based primarily on whether the patient has failed traditional maximal conventional therapy with the additional consideration of certain ventilatory strategy restrictions imposed by the presence of TBI.