High frequency percussive ventilation in burn patients: hemodynamics and gas exchange.

High frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) is a recent ventilatory mode, which combines conventional cycles with high frequency percussions. HFPV was initially instituted as salvage therapy after acute respiratory failure following smoke inhalation injury achieving in each case a dramatic improvement of blood oxygenation, PaCO(2) and ventilatory pressures. This study investigates the influence of HFPV on hesmodynamics, blood oxygenation and ventilatory parameters in eight stable ICU burn patients requiring artificial ventilatory support during a postoperative period following traumatic injury.