Personalized Ventilator Settings for Patients on ECMO

While mechanical ventilation can be used to sustain life in those with lung injury, it, can further worsen lung injury or prevent lung healing resulting in high morbidity and mortality as seen in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the highest level of life support also known as the heart-lung machine, investigators may minimize injury from mechanical ventilation to allow the lungs to heal; however, the optimal ventilator strategies while on ECMO are unknown. This study will evaluate personalized ventilator strategy compared to standard of care ventilation.