Prolonged use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a rescue modality following traumatic brain injury.

A 21-year-old male trauma patient presented after a motor vehicle crash, witnessed massive aspiration and sustained traumatic brain injury. On postinjury day 3, the patient progressed to adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) refractory to all conventional therapies, prompting the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). After 5 days of ECMO support and 3 thrombosed oxygenators, systemic anticoagulation was initiated.