According to the extracorporeal life support (ECLS) registry report, the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in neonates with severe respiratory failure reached its peak in 1992. With the emergence of new respiratory support methods such as nitric oxide, pulmonary surfactant, and high-frequency ventilation, the number of neonates with ECMO for respiratory support decreased gradually, maintaining at about 1000 cases per year. However, it also means that the neonates who need ECMO support will be in a more severe condition, which requires higher requirements for clinicians. In order to further standardize the technique of neonatal extracorporeal life support, the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) published the guidelines for neonatal respiratory failure in 2020. The guidelines provide suggestions on the technology, patient management and complications during ECMO. This article mainly interprets the patient selection, support mode, technical considerations, management and complications during ECMO.