Persistent bronchopleural fistula in a patient with adult respiratory distress syndrome. Treatment with pressure-controlled ventilation.
Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) continues to present a treatment problem in mechanically ventilated patients. We report a patient with a traumatic BPF, pneumonia, and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who was successfully ventilated with pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV). This mode, by allowing the use of lower inspiratory airway pressures, may promote closure of the fistula.
Litmanovitch
M
M
Intensive Care Unit, Baragwanath Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Soweto, South Africa.
Joynt
G M
GM
Cooper
P J
PJ
Kraus
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001983:Bronchial Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005402:Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000150:complications*