High-Frequency Jet Ventilation in Nonintubated Patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: High-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) is a convenient method for providing ventilation during fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Wedescribe an incipient approach of high-frequency jet ventilation via the working channel of a flexible bronchoscope for nonintubatedpatients who suffer from hypoxemia during bronchoscopy. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of this incipient approach anddetermine the possible complications related to it.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients who had oxygen saturation below 70% that did not resolve with nasal oxygen for 20 sduring interventional bronchoscopy were included in the study. High-frequency jet ventilation was administrated via the working channelof a bronchoscope for 3 min. Arterial blood gas circumscriptions were compared before and after jet ventilation.RESULTS: Oxygen saturation increased to >90% in all patients 30 s after jet ventilation. Mean arterial oxygen saturation pressure increasedfrom 54.84 to 111.98 mmHg with jet ventilation (p=0.0001). Arterial carbon dioxide tension decreased after jet ventilation. Thebody mass index had no consequential effect on arterial carbon dioxide pressure after jet ventilation in our patients (p=0.1). Complicationssuch as pneumothorax and working channel damage were not observed.CONCLUSION: High-frequency jet ventilation via the working channel of the bronchoscope is a novel method that can provide optimalventilation with minimal complications to nonintubated patients suffering from hypoxemia during bronchoscopy. This method alsoreduces the duration of bronchoscopy procedures.