Pulmonary edema and respiratory failure is uncommon but fatal complications associated with major operations of the lung, especially after pneumonectomy. The extracorporeal membrane oxygenation[ECMO] is quite often used in infants with severe respiratory failure and congenital heart disease which is well documented in the literature. In adults, the results of ECMO is comparatively poor to those found in neonates. We have experienced a case of ECMO applied on a 48 year old male who had respiratory failure after pneumonectomy, and the patient was successfully weaned from bypass. Unfortunately however, the patient expired on postoperative 15 day due to multiorgan failure.