The authors present the principle and discusses the indications and contraindications of two technics of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the treatment of neonatal respiratory failure, respectively veno-arterial and veno-venous. The two technics appear to give comparable results. They are indicated in neonates with refractory hypoxemia after failure of other methods such as surfactant, high frequency oscillatory ventilation and nitrous monoxyde.