High-frequency oscillatory ventilation for respiratory failure after congenital heart surgery: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Pulmonary complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children undergoing cardiac surgery [1]. Refractory respiratory failure due to various causes remains challenging to manage as conventional mechanical ventilation fails. Management of patients developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been researched extensively and keeps changing. The outcome of paediatric ARDS (PARDS) is still disappointing despite implementation of several lung protective techniques [2,3]. Around 3.2-8.4% of paediatric patients undergoing congenital heart surgery are put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support due to cardiorespiratory failure. ECMO is often less favoured than conventional therapy due to its high costs and complication rates. Moreover, the decision to institute ECMO is mainly empirical,