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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

A Novel Rescue Technique for Difficult Intubation and Difficult Ventilation
Published on: January 17, 2011
[Noninvasive ventilation with heliox in an infant with acute respiratory distress syndrome]
F Martinón-Torres1, P A Crespo Suárez, C Silvia Barbàra
1Servicio de Críticos, Intermedios y Urgencias Pediátricas, Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain. fedemartinon@movistar.com
Abstract:
Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) combined with heliox therapy (Hx) constitutes a therapeutic option in the management of adult patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Either NIV or Hx alone can also be effective in pediatric patients, but there are no published reports on their combined use. We describe the case of a 4-month-old infant with acute respiratory insufficiency due to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to respiratory syncytial virus infection, successfully treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure and heliox (Hx-nCPAP). A commercially available nCPAP ventilator adapted for heliox use was employed for Hx-nCPAP application. This is the first report of the use of Hx-nCPAP in an infant.
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