A double-crossover study comparing conventional ventilation with high frequency ventilation in a patient with...

Respiratory distress, from severe gastric aspiration pneumonitis and abdominal distention in the patient with tracheoesophageal fistula frequently requires mechanical ventilatory support. Bulk flow ventilation can lead to enlargement of the fistulous tract, elevation of gastric intraluminal pressures, raised airway pressures with hemodynamic instability, and retained secretions. We report a case of tracheoesophageal fistula, secondary to perforation of a squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, with temporary improvement in gas exchange on high frequency ventilation after failing on a conventional ventilator. The patient initially failed to improve on an Engstrom ventilator (Engstrom-Gambro, Inc., Barrington, IL) at 13 l/minute ventilation. Instituting high frequency jet ventilation with a VS 600 Jet Ventilator (Instrument Development Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA) at initial settings of 35 psi, rate 150, inspiratory time 40%, FiO2 0.8 and 12 cm H2O positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP), provided incremental improvement in gas exchange and oxygenation up to 26 cm H2O PEEP. However, in view of progressive multi-organ failure we terminated the jet ventilation after 48 h and returned the patient to conventional ventilation. We were unable to provide life-sustaining ventilation and oxygenation with either an Engstrom ventilator at 13 l/-minute ventilation or an MA-1 ventilator (Puritan-Bennett, Kansas City, MO) at a tidal volume of 800 cc and a ventilator rate of 30. Terminal respiratory failure occurred. Based on the period of improvement using high frequency jet ventilation, we believe this mode of ventilatory support is beneficial in the management of tracheoesophageal fistula.