A comparative study of conventional versus high-frequency jet ventilation with relation to the incidence of postoperative morbidity in thoracic surgery

Sixty-five patients undergoing a thoracic procedure were randomly allocated to one of two groups. The first group received a conventional method of ventilation (double-lumen endobronchial tube and collapse of one lung) and the second, high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV). The incidence of postoperative chest infections (clinical and bacteriological), the chest drain volumes, and the length of postoperative stay in the hospital were recorded. Results showed the jet ventilator group had a significantly reduced mean hospital stay (p less than 0.01), which could be attributed to a lower incidence of postoperative chest infections (p less than 0.001) and significantly improved arterial blood O2 tensions at 4 hours (p less than 0.05), 24 hours, and 7 days postoperatively (p less than 0.001).