Respiratory support by neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) in severe RSV-related bronchiolitis: a case series report.
BACKGROUND
Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) is a new mode of mechanical ventilation controlled by diaphragmatic electrical signals. The electrical signals allow synchronization of ventilation to spontaneous breathing efforts of a child, as well as permitting pressure assistance proportional to the electrical signal. NAVA provides equally fine synchronization of respiratory support and pressure assistance varying with the needs of the child. NAVA has mainly been studied in children who underwent cardiac surgery during the period of weaning from a respirator.


METHODS
We report here a series of 3 children (1 month, 3 years, and 28 days old) with severe respiratory distress due to RSV-related bronchiolitis requiring invasive mechanical ventilation with a high level of oxygen (FiO2 ≥ 50%) for whom NAVA facilitated respiratory support. One of these children had diagnosis criteria for acute lung injury, another for acute respiratory distress syndrome.Establishment of NAVA provided synchronization of mechanical ventilatory support with the breathing efforts of the children. Respiratory rate and inspiratory pressure became extremely variable, varying at each cycle, while children were breathing easily and smoothly. All three children demonstrated less oxygen requirements after introducing NAVA (57 ± 6% to 42 ± 18%). This improvement was observed while peak airway pressure decreased (28 ± 3 to 15 ± 5 cm H2O). In one child, NAVA facilitated the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome with extensive subcutaneous emphysema.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings highlight the feasibility and benefit of NAVA in children with severe RSV-related bronchiolitis. NAVA provides a less aggressive ventilation requiring lower inspiratory pressures with good results for oxygenation and more comfort for the children.
Unité de Réanimation Pédiatrique, Hôpital Mère-Enfant Faïencerie, CHU de Nantes, 38 Boulevard Jean-Monnet, 44093 Nantes, France.
Jean-Michel
JM
Liet
Jean-Marc
JM
Dejode
Nicolas
N
Joram
Bénédicte
B
Gaillard-Le Roux
Pierre
P
Bétrémieux
Jean-Christophe
JC
Rozé
D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000628:therapy; D001990:Bronchiolitis, Viral / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D059725:Interactive Ventilatory Support; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index