[High frequency oscillatory ventilation in the newborn infant].
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine the effectivity, results and complications after application of HFOV in a group of newborns with serious respiratory distress.


METHODS
Between February and October 1995, HFOV was required by 18 newborns in the NICU of the Hospital "La Fe" of Valencia, as ventilatory rescue therapy because of the failure of conventional ventilation in 10 cases (group A) and serious air leaks in 8 cases (group B). We used pure HFOV without superimposed cycles of conventional IMV following a high volume-high pressure strategy. Among the lung pathology, RDS was most frequent (11/18).


RESULTS
Twenty-four hours after beginning HFOV, a decrease of the FiO2 was obtained in group A from 0.89 to 0.4 and in group B from 0.7 to 0.4. Oxygenation, ventilation, OI and a/AO2 ration also improved. In the group with conventional ventilation failure, this improvement was significant for all parameters in the first two hours after the start of HFOV (p < 0.01). In the group with air leaks, all parameters improved at two hours, but this change was significant only for oxygenation (p < 0.01). Four newborns died (22%) in the first month.


CONCLUSIONS
HFOV is an effective and secure ventilatory method when conventional ventilation fails or serious air leaks occur. Important improvement in oxygenation and ventilation is obtained during the first two hours and it is possible to decrease the oxygen requirements at 24 hours after the start of HFOV.
Gutiérrez Laso
A
A
Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia.
García Cantó
E
E
Izquierdo Macián
I
I
Alberola Pérez
A
A
Morcillo Sopena
F
F
D004646:Emphysema / Q000628:therapy*; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000628:therapy*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies
Ventilación oscilatoria de alta frecuencia en el recién nacido.