Background: The efficacy and safety of the combined use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and prone ventilation are currently not known for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Case presentation: We report two cases in which the combination of veno-venous ECMO and prone ventilation for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia were successfully carried out. Both patients had developed severe respiratory failure due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, thus requiring veno-venous ECMO. Prone ventilation was also administered safely.
Conclusion: Oxygenation and lung compliance gradually improved during prone ventilation, and both patients were successfully extubated. For patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia who require veno-venous ECMO, the use of prone ventilation could be beneficial, and should be considered.
Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; COVID‐19; SARS‐CoV‐2; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; prone ventilation.
© 2020 The Authors. Acute Medicine & Surgery published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Association for Acute Medicine.