Anales españoles de pediatría
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High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) constitutes an important advance in the management of children with respiratory failure. Although it has been used mainly as "lung rescue therapy", pediatric indications for HFOV can be broader. The principal advantages of this modality compared with conventional ventilation are the lower incidence of barotrauma, volutrauma, atelectrauma and biotrauma. To date, experience with HFOV in our country has been scarce and limited to neonatal patients. ⋯ HFOV is a safe and effective ventilatory modality in critically ill pediatric patients in whom conventional ventilation is not effective. To obtain better results, HFOV should be started early. Every child with refractory respiratory failure should be referred early to centers where HFOV can be offered.