Noise measurements during high-frequency oscillatory and conventional mechanical ventilation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the noise levels with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation and conventional mechanical ventilation.


METHODS
An observational, prospective study.


METHODS
Pediatric intensive care unit.


METHODS
The caretakers and environment of the pediatric intensive care unit.


METHODS
High-frequency oscillatory and conventional mechanical ventilation.


RESULTS
Caretakers evaluated noise using a visual analog scale. Noise was measured with a decibel meter and an octave band frequency filter. There was twice as much noise perceived by the caretakers and as measured on the decibel A scale. All measures showed significantly greater noise, especially at low frequencies, with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation.


CONCLUSIONS
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation exposes the patient to twice as much noise as does the use of conventional mechanical ventilation.
Berens
R J
RJ
Medical College of Wisconsin, USA.
Weigle
C G
CG
D006612:High-Frequency Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D016014:Linear Models; D009622:Noise; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data