Effect of jaw-thrust and continuous positive airway pressure on tidal breathing in deeply sedated infants.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the physiologic impact of the jaw-thrust maneuver or the administration of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on tidal breathing in deeply sedated infants.


METHODS
Prospective, non-randomized study of infants undergoing elective fiberoptic bronchoscopy while sedated with intermittent doses of propofol.


METHODS
Spontaneous tidal breathing was measured in the supine position by means of a spirometer attached to a bronchoscopy face mask. Tidal breaths were recorded under the following conditions: (1) neutral sniffing position, (2) jaw-thrust, (3) neutral sniffing position, and (4) CPAP of 5 cm H(2)O. Improvement was defined as a change of more than twice the coefficient of variation of repeated measurements of tidal volume and flows from baseline.


RESULTS
Jaw-thrust increased tidal volume, minute ventilation, and peak tidal inspiratory and expiratory flows significantly in all 13 infants studied (mean +/- SEM age = 8 +/- 2 months). CPAP increased peak tidal inspiratory and expiratory flows by more than twice the coefficient of variation of baseline measurements in 6 patients and tidal volume and minute ventilation in 5 of 10 patients studied.


CONCLUSIONS
Jaw-thrust and CPAP are effective techniques to improve ventilation of sedated infants undergoing interventions that compromise upper airway patency.
Hammer
J
J
Division of Pediatric Intensive Care and Pulmonology, University Children's Hospital Basel, Poatfach, 4005 Basel, Switzerland.
Reber
A
A
Trachsel
D
D
Frei
F J
FJ
D001999:Bronchoscopy; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D007223:Infant; D007568:Jaw / Q000502:physiology*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013147:Spirometry; D016683:Supine Position; D013990:Tidal Volume
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives