Clinical uses of high frequency jet ventilation in anaesthesia

Since 1981, high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) has been used in 300 patients undergoing surgery, most commonly during i.v. general anaesthesia for endoscopy and surgery of the airways: laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, laryngeal microsurgery and laser surgery (more than 230 patients); repair of tracheal stenosis, tracheal sleeve pneumonectomy and tracheal sleeve lobectomy. HFJV was administered through a narrow injection catheter inserted in the airway, with a second rigid catheter positioned distally to the injector in the airway for gas sampling and measurement of airway pressure. In all subjects gas exchange was satisfactory, even during tracheoplasty and bronchoplasty.