The Journal of burn care & rehabilitation
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J Burn Care Rehabil · May 1999
High frequency percussive ventilation in pediatric patients with inhalation injury.
The objective of this study was to present data that showed high frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) was superior to traditional mechanical ventilation for the treatment of children with inhalation injuries. Inhalation injuries continue to be the number one cause of death of patients with thermal injuries in the United States. Therapy for this condition has consisted of conservative pulmonary toilet and mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Patients ranged in age from 6 to 9 years, and most had burns covering greater than 50% of their total body surface areas. No deaths occurred in either group, but the patients who were treated with HFPV had no cases of pneumonia (P < .05), better P/F ratios (P < .05), lower peak inspiratory pressures, and less work of breathing (P < .05) as compared with our control group. On the basis of our clinical experience and data, the use of HFPV seems to be an effective treatment for the reduction of pulmonary morbidity in pediatric patients with inhalation injuries.