Comparison of conventional mandatory ventilation and high frequency oscillatory ventilation for treatment of acute lung injury induced by steam inhalation injury

This study compared pathophysical indexes, respiratory mechanics, circulatory parameters and lung injury scores of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by steam inhalation injury in a New Zealand rabbit model with different ventilatory strategies: a control group which consisted of lower tidal volume (VT 6 ml/kg) and high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) (9 cmH2O); treatment group which was high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). Eighteen rabbits were anaesthetized, sedated, neuromuscular-blocked and ventilated with above two modes at our animal laboratory of burn center. After induction of acute lung injury by steam inhalation, animals were randomizedly assigned to receive either conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) or high frequency oscillatory ventilation and were grouped as CMV and HFOV group. As a result, HFOV attenuated the decrease in oxygenation and pulmonary compliance, alleviated lung tissue damage and inflammatory response. Therefore, HFOV may be a preferable option for treatment of acute lung injury induced by steam inhalation injury.