• Chest. 2014 Mar 1;145(3 Suppl):447A.

Session TitlePediatric PostersSESSION TYPE: Poster PresentationsPRESENTED ON: Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 01:15 PM - 02:15 PMPURPOSE: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is frequently used in pediatric intensive care units for patients requiring an escalated level of respiratory support. Recent literature suggests that utilizing NIV in acute respiratory failure may prevent tracheal intubation, and also promotes early extubation in specific patient populations. However, there is little data available regarding complications associated with NIV in pediatric patients. We present a case series of five pediatric patients that developed pneumothorax while on the RAM cannula.MethodsFive patient charts where an infant patient was receiving non-invasive cpap/bipap at the time of developing pneumothorax were reviewed and described.ResultsAll five patients were located in the pediatric ICU at the time of pneumothorax development, and were on various settings on a non-invasive bipap RAM cannula. The settings ranged from CPAP to Bipap with a high rate. Two of the five patients were found to have a pneumothorax following feeding tube placement.ConclusionsWe conclude that while NIV is a safe and effective way to deliver respiratory support, there are potential complications that providers should be aware of should acute respiratory compromise occur. We also note that placement of a feeding tube obstructing a nare in correlation with the use of non-invasive nasal cpap/bipap may increase the risk of pneumothorax.Clinical ImplicationsAlthough RAM cpap/bipap has clear benefits in the pediatric population and should continue to be used, further studies need to be done to assess the complications associated with this new technology, including the association with pneumothorax seen in this case series.DisclosureThe following authors have nothing to disclose: Beth Johnson, Gwenyth FischerNo Product/Research Disclosure Information.

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