Lung compliance, airway resistance, and work of breathing in children after inhalation injury

Pathophysiologic changes associated with inhalation injury make mechanical ventilation in children a challenge. Decreased lung compliance and increased airway resistance after inhalation injury may lead to elevated airway pressures and barotrauma. Previous studies have shown significant decreases in the incidence of pneumonia and death in adult patients with inhalation injury treated with high-frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) as compared with conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV). No studies to date have compared lung compliance, airway resistance, or work of breathing in children being treated with HFPV versus CMV. The purpose of this study was to evaluate lung compliance, airway resistance, and work of breathing in pediatric patients with inhalation injury who required mechanical ventilation. Ten children with bronchoscopically identified inhalation injury requiring mechanical ventilation were studied. Five children received CMV and five children received HFPV. All patients were treated according to our standard inhalation injury protocol. Based on our data and patient population, children receiving ventilation with the HFPV have a significant decrease in the work of breathing as compared with CMV.