Respiratory failure requiring ventilation in acute bronchiolitis.
Severe bronchiolitis requiring mechanical ventilation is uncommon and is associated with the risk of barotrauma. We report our experience with 25 (42%) of 60 infants admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with severe bronchiolitis who required mechanical ventilation. Eighteen patients (72%) had severe hypoxaemia (PaO2/FiO2 < 250). The mean airway pressure required ranged from 5.8 to 15.6 cmH2O with median ventilation duration of 4.0 days (range 2.0-14.0 days). Oxygenation improved significantly within 12 hours of intubation. There was only one death. Mechanical ventilation is required in a subset of patients for severe bronchiolitis and is effective and generally well tolerated.
Chan
P W
PW
Department of Paediatrics, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
Goh
A Y
AY
Lum
L C
LC
D000208:Acute Disease; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*