Evaluation of lung volumes and gas exchange in surfactant-deficient rabbits between variable and fixed servo pressures during high-frequency jet ventilation.

Objective: To investigate a novel servo pressure (SP) setting during high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) for a lung protective strategy in a neonatal model of acute respiratory distress.

Study Design: Comparison of efficacy between variable (standard) and fixed SP settings in a randomized animal study using rabbits (n = 10, mean weight = 1.80 kg) with surfactant deficiency by repeated lung lavages.

Results: Rabbits in the fixed SP group had greater peak inspiratory pressure, SP, minute volume, pH, and PaO, and lower PaCO after lung lavage than the variable SP group. Lung volume monitoring with electrical impedance tomography showed that fixed SP reduced the decline of the global lung tidal variation at 30 min after lung lavage (-17.4% from baseline before lavage) compared to variable SP (-44.9%).

Conclusion: HFJV with fixed SP significantly improved gas exchange and lung volumes compared to variable SP. Applying a fixed SP may have important clinical implications for patients receiving HFJV.