Introduction
Sickle cell disease (SCD), a hereditary recessive hemoglobinopathy, disproportionately affects the African-American population and is associated with vaso-occlusion, such as acute chest syndrome (ACS).1 The severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) global pandemic has negatively impacted children with SCD, leading to more intensive care unit admissions and increased mortality.2 In children with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to SARS-CoV-2, there is a quickly rising need for extracorporeal mechanical oxygenation (ECMO) support.3 Notably, ECMO in SARS-CoV-2 increases risk of thromboembolism and coagulopathy, which is heightened in children with SCD.4 The literature shows that ECMO use in the SCD population is increasing, but a lingering degree of uncertainty persists given their underlying propensity for hemolysis, stroke, and thrombosis.5 In this correspondence, we report the successful prolonged use of veno-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO) as a bridge to recovery in a child with SCD who developed refractory ARDS due to SARS-CoV-2.