[Use of high frequency ventilation in patients with respiratory insufficiency]

High frequency ventilation is very common today for treatment of patients with respiratory insufficiency in the ICU as well as intraoperatively. This special kind of artificial ventilation is suitable for patients with decreased lung volume and reduced thoracic and lung compliance. Favourable results in the treatment of ARDS are described. During high frequency ventilation the same degree of oxygenation and CO2-elimination can be reached as with conventional mechanical ventilation. The resulting lower peak and mean airway pressure is advantageous. Therefore the barotrauma of the lung is reduced during high frequency ventilation. For these reasons high frequency ventilation is an alternative method for ventilation of patients with so called "stiff lungs" with reduced thoracic and lung compliance.