[High-frequency oscillatory ventilation. A single-center study].
BACKGROUND
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation is a safe and effective means of delivering mechanical ventilatory support.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in pediatric patients with acute respiratory failure.


METHODS
From August 2003 to July 2005, we performed a prospective observational study of 11 children older than 1 month who underwent high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. Pediatric risk of mortality scores (PRISM), Murray lung-injury scores and air leak scores were recorded at baseline before ventilation. The following variables were studied: ventilatory settings (FiO2 and mean airway pressure), gasometric (PaO2, SaO2, PaCO2, pHa, PaO2/FiO2 ratio) and hemodynamic parameters (Partm, PVC), and the oxygenation index.


RESULTS
The overall survival rate was 82 %. Significant increases were found in PaO2 (p < 0.05), SaO2 (p < 0.05) and the PaO2/FiO2 ratio (p < 0.05), while mean airway pressure (p < 0.001), oxygenation index (p < 0.001), and FiO2 (p < 0.001) significantly decreased over time.


CONCLUSIONS
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation significantly improved oxygenation in children with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.
García Hernández
J A
JA
Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Cuidados Críticos y Urgencias, Hospital Infantil Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España. garcier@wanadoo.es
Vázquez Florido
A
A
Martínez López
A I
AI
González Rodríguez
J D
JD
Navas López
V M
VM
Romero Parreño
A
A
Cayuela Domínguez
A
A
Loscertales Abril
M
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006612:High-Frequency Ventilation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome