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Humboldt University, Charité Virchow Hospital Berlin, Germany
Correspondence to: Thomas Hoehn, MD, Department of Neonatology, Charité, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Humboldt University, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany; e-mail: thomas.hoehn{at}charite.de
To the Editor:
With great interest, we read the article by Jerry A. Krishnan and Roy G. Brower that appeared in a recent issue of CHEST (September 2000).1 We fully agree that every effort should be undertaken to minimize the occurrence of ventilator-associated lung injury. By avoiding stretch-induced injury, which is caused by high end-inspiratory and low end-expiratory lung volumes, high-frequency ventilation (HFV) potentially offers a gentler mode of ventilation. The majority of randomized controlled trials of HFV have been conducted in preterm neonates, although three Cochrane Reviews2 3 4 have been published. Although the predominant underlying disease in these reviews was a homogeneous parenchymal lung disease (respiratory distress syndrome), therapeutic options were so heterogeneously modified as to render the reviewer’s statements inconclusive. However, with respect to the specific techniques of HFV (high-frequency oscillatory ventilation vs high-frequency jet ventilation [HFJV]), a few comments are appropriate. First, HFJV in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants has been associated with a greater risk for adverse outcome (ie, severe intracranial hemorrhage, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, or death).5 Second, the only study that demonstrated a reduced incidence of chronic lung disease in preterm infants was the Provo trial.6 This trial was performed with the use of an oscillatory device of the diaphragm type, and a high-volume strategy was applied. The term "high-volume strategy" refers to the degree of lung expansion achieved during HFV and corresponds to the lung protective concept of reduced end-inspiratory and increased end-expiratory lung volumes. Taken together, the neonatal data published so far have shown efficacy as well as safety exclusively for the oscillator type of HFV.
A more uniform lung expansion during HFV has additional advantages, which were not discussed by Krishnan and Brower. The distribution of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), which is frequently used in ARDS treatment regimens, happens in a more homogenous manner and therefore can be enhanced by HFV. The coadministration of HFV and iNO leads to an improved oxygenation compared to either HFV or iNO alone, which has been shown in preterm as well as in term newborns with acute lung injury (ALI) and pulmonary hypertension.7 8 In addition, a more uniform lung expansion prevents alveolar collapse and secondary surfactant inactivation in nonventilated lung areas. High-frequency oscillatory ventilation turned out to significantly reduce the number of redosing surfactant in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.6
Clearly, randomized controlled trials establishing the potential role of HFV in adult patients with ALI/ARDS are highly desirable. Data from animal models readily document a superiority of HFV over conventional ventilation once traditional ventilation strategies are employed (ie, tidal volumes of 8 to 10 mL/kg).9 Applying lung protective strategies during conventional ventilation may ultimately complicate the proof of HFV superiority but will certainly be beneficial for patients with ALI/ARDS.
References
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD
Correspondence to: Jerry A. Krishnan, MD, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, 600 N. Wolfe St, Blalock 910, Baltimore, MD 21287; e-mail: Satish{at}jhmi.edu
To the Editor:
We agree that additional studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical benefit of high-frequency ventilation (HFV) as a lung protective strategy in adults with acute lung injury and ARDS (ALI/ARDS). Studies in animals and neonates are particularly promising for the use of high-frequency oscillation (HFO), a form of HFV. Two studies1 2 in premature neonates with respiratory distress syndrome discussed in our review (one cited by Drs. Hoehn and Bührer1 ) suggested that HFO reduces the incidence of chronic lung disease compared to conventional ventilation.
The study by Kinsella et al3 found that oxygenation was similar in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension randomized to conventional ventilation with inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) compared to HFO alone. Neonates without improved oxygenation (PaO2 < 60 mm Hg with fraction of inspired oxygen = 1.0 at 2 h) following the initial treatment assignment were crossed over to the alternate strategy. Lack of improvement in oxygenation following crossover led to treatment with HFO and iNO. HFO combined with iNO improved oxygenation in 32% of neonates whose oxygenation did not improve with conventional ventilation and iNO or HFO alone following crossover. While the response to HFO with iNO is encouraging, the lack of prospectively identified control group for this combined strategy limits the interpretation of the results. We look forward to studies in adults with ALI/ARDS.
References
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