ABSTRACT
There is increasing use of high frequency oscillatory ventilation [HFOV] in [rescuing] pediatric patients with acute respiratory failure [ARF], failing conventional ventilation [CV]. Because HFOV is considered to be a [rescue] therapy, intervention with HFOV is usually in the later stages of respiratory failure, after a prolonged CV. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of HFOV, used as [early rescue] therapy, on gas exchanges in pediatric patients with ARF and diffuse alveolar disease. An HFOV protocol for pediatric patients with ARF was established with the following entry criteria: body weight of /= 90% and PaO[2]