Abstract
High-frequency ventilation has become a valuable tool in the management of neonates with severe pulmonary disease. Along with reports of clinical successes, have come reports of serious complications, primarily mucous obstruction of the airways and necrotizing tracheitis. Airway histopathology from four infanta who died after prolonged (ave., 8 days), high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) with the Mallinkrodt Bunnell Life-Pulse Jet Ventilator were compared to 12 matched control infants who died after conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV). Each of the four HFJV treated infants was matched to three CMV treated infants for birth weight, gestational age, date of birth and duration of mechanical ventilation. The 4-point, 9-variable, histologic scoring system of Ophoven et al. was used to score histologic changes at the level of the larynx, mid-trachea, carina, and right and left main bronchi. Total injury scores and patterns of acute and chronic injuries were compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for nonparametnc measurements. We found no statistically significant differences in total injury scores, or in patterns of acute or chronic injury at the levels of the larynx, trachea, carina, and right and left bronchi. Our results are in contrast with previously published data. The differences may be related to improved humidification systems provided by the most recent generation of jet ventilators.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Polak, M., Bucciarelli, R. & Donnelly, W. AIRWAY PATHOLOGY AFTER PROLONGED HIGH-FREQUENCY JET VENTILATION. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 205 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00236
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00236