Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and ventilation therapy in the treatment of severe blast lung injury.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 37 patients with severe blast lung injury admitted to 909th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force (Affiliated Dongnan Hospital of Xianmen University Medical College) from January 2000 to December 2021, including 23 males and 14 females; aged 26-50 years [(36.3±11.1)years]. The chest abbreviated injury score (AIS) was 3-5 points. In all, 16 patients were treated with ECMO from January 2017 to December 2021 (ECMO group) and 21 with ventilator from January 2000 to December 2016 (ventilator group). Blood gas analysis indexes [arterial pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO 2), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2), blood lactate (Lac)] and hemodynamics indexes [central venous pressure (CVP), cardiac output index (CI), pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PAWP)] were compared in the two groups at 30 minutes before treatment and at 2, 4, 6 hours after treatment. The mechanical ventilation time, ICU length of stay, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score and mortality were measured at 7 days after treatment. Results:All patients were followed up for 24-48 months [(33.6±8.2)months]. The blood gas analysis and hemodynamic indexes were significantly improved in the two groups at 2, 4, 6 hours after treatment when compared with those at 30 minutes before treatment (all P<0.05), and the improvements were still statistically significant in ECMO group at 4, 6 hours after treatment when compared with those at 2 hours after treatment (all P<0.05), while not in ventilator group (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in blood gas analysis indexes or hemodynamic indexes between the two groups at 30 minutes before treatment (all P>0.05). After treatment for 2, 4, 6 hours, blood gas analysis indexes and hemodynamic indexes in ECMO group were statistically different from those in ventilator group (all P<0.05). After treatment for 7 days, the mechanical ventilation time, ICU length of stay, APACHE II score and mortality were (3.2±1.2)days, (5.4±1.3)days, (14.1±3.3)points and 12.5% (2/16) in ECMO group, significantly different from (5.1±1.6)days, (7.6±1.6)days, (10.2±2.6)days and 28.6% (6/21) in ventilator group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:For severe blast lung injury, ECMO can attain rapid and continuous improvement of refractory hypoxemia and dyspnea, shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay and reduce the mortality rate when compared with ventilator therapy.