title: Helium-oxygen mixture does not improve gas exchange in mechanically ventilated children with bronchiolitis.
abstract: STATEMENT OF FINDINGS: Varying concentrations of helium-oxygen (heliox) mixtures were evaluated in mechanically ventilated children with bronchiolitis. We hypothesized that, with an increase in the helium:oxygen ratio, and therefore a decrease in gas density, ventilation and oxygenation would improve in children with bronchiolitis. Ten patients, aged 1-9 months, were mechanically ventilated in synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) mode with the following gas mixtures delivered at 15-min intervals: 50%/50% nitrogen/oxygen, 50%/50% heliox, 60%/40% heliox, 70%/30% heliox, and return to 50%/50% nitrogen/oxygen. The use of different heliox mixtures compared with 50%/50% nitrogen/oxygen in mechanically ventilated children with bronchiolitis did not result in a significant or noticeable decrease in ventilation or oxygenation.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital Health Center, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Spear
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006371:Helium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007385:Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014939:Work of Breathing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006371:Helium; C038949:heliox; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen