For over 40 years high-frequency ventilation (HFV) has been investigated for the management of acute respiratory failure [1-3]. A number of approaches to HFV have been developed over these years; high-frequency positive pressure ventilation (HFPPV), high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV), and high-frequency oscillation (HFO). HFPPV has been defined as the application of conventional mechanical ventilation at rates of about 60-180 breaths / min or 1.0-3.0 Hz (1 Hz = 60/min) [3]. HFJV is established by the injection of a gas under high pressure into the airway at a rate of up to about 10 Hz while entraining a secondary gas [3]. HFO is the oscillation by use of a piston or diaphragm of a column of bias gas flow across the airway at frequencies up to about 20 Hz [3]. Currently, the high-frequency approach used in both neonatal respiratory failure and adult acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that has gained the most interest is HFO.
展开▼
