PARTIAL LIQUID VENTILATION IN A CHILD ON EXTRACORPOREAL LIFE-SUPPORT

A 14 month old child was referred for management of acute respiratory distress syndrome after aspiration of paraffin lamp oil. Initial manag ement with conventional ventilation and subsequent management with hig h frequency oscillatory ventilation produced pulmonary air leaks, furt her compromising clinical management. After initiating extracorporeal life support and low pressure ventilation, pulmonary air leaks subside d. The patient was then successfully managed by a protocol including p artial liquid ventilation with perfluorocarbon. This case report detai ls the authors' experience with the first child with respiratory failu re to be managed with partial liquid ventilation while on extracorpore al life support.