title: Helium-oxygen mixture to facilitate ventilation in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation.
abstract: A combination of helium and oxygen (heliox) can facilitate gas exchange and limit peak inspiratory pressures through reduced resistance to gas flow and decreased turbulent flow. The combination of these gases has been used for a variety of upper and lower airway conditions, including patients who were spontaneously breathing, receiving noninvasive ventilation, as well as during mechanical ventilation. To date, there are no reports regarding the use of heliox in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome following lung transplantation. We report the use of such a combination of gases in 2 patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome following lung transplantation as a supportive measure to facilitate ventilation during the initial treatment course for acute respiratory failure in the ICU. A heliox mixture was administered with noninvasive ventilation and with mechanical ventilation through the ventilator in a heart-lung transplant recipient and a lung transplant recipient, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA. stephen.kirkby@nationwidechildrens.org
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kirkby
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Galantowicz
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: McKee
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hayes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006371:Helium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D006371:Helium; C038949:heliox; D010100:Oxygen