Objective The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a treatment for the failure of cardiopulmonary function after cardiac surgery is increasing and has been reported to be 3% to 5% in the cases with congenital heart disease. We reviewed our experience with ECMO in children who received heart surgery for congenital heart disease and complicated with severe heart failure postoperatively. Methods Eight patients received ECMO, seven was due to the failure to wean from bypass and one had fulminant myocarditis. Import membrane oxygenator,veno-arterial mode ECMO and right atriumascending aortic cannulation were used in 7 cases and peripheral cannulation via femoral veno-artery route was used in 1 case.Supportive intervention persisted from 65 to 498 hours, with flow rate maintained at 80 to 120 ml per minute per kilogram body weight. Results Five patients died, with a mortality of 62.5%, and 3 cases discharged, with a survival rate of 38%. Bleeding occurred in 5 cases, thrombosis occurred in 2 cases, hemolysis was identified in 1 case and DIC was observed in 1 case.One case had liver failure and 2 cases had malnutrition. Oxygenator plasma leakage occurred in 2 cases. Mean arterial blood pressure increased significantly after the establishment of ECMO as compared with that before the procedure [( 60.2 ± 7.8 )mmHg vs. (48. 1 ± 5.2 ) mmHg, P≤0.05]. The arterial concentration of lactate decreased significantly, from (5. 1 ± 0. 8 )mmol per liter before ECMO to ( 3.6 ±0. 5 )mmol per liter after ECMO, P ＜0.05. Conclusion For patients who survived the congenital heart surgery and no residual anatomic deformity, ECMO can be used as early as possible as a treatment for severe heart failure which resulted from coexistent of left and right ventricular and pulmonary insufficiency. An overall mortality may be decreased by ECMO technique as it plays a substitution role for gas exchange in the lung. As a result, the concentration of oxygen and the airway pressure used during ventilation, and the resultant lung injury can be reduced. Appropriate strategies involve transfusion of fresh platelet and packed red blood cells, replacement of frozen plasma and blood products, as well as rational use of vasoactive drugs and heparin, and maintaining a stable internal environment. Following strategies are also recommended: using continuous arterio-venous hemofiltration and durable heparin-coated membrne oxygenator, reducing hemorrhagic complications, monitoring pressure on both side of the film, identifying plasma leakage carefully and reducing the mechanical complications.