Brain injury was more common in venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) compared with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vv-ECMO).

While ischemic brain injury was more common in venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients, the rates of intracranial hemorrhage were similar between venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Further research on mechanism, timing, and effective monitoring of acute brain injury and its management is necessary.

Two independent reviewers extracted the data from the studies. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to pool data.

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