BRONCHOSCOPIC INSUFFLATION OF ROOM AIR FOR THE TREATMENT OF LOBAR ATELECTASIS IN MECHANICALLY VENTILATED PATIENTS

Segmental and lobar pulmonary atelectasis is a common occurrence in me chanically ventilated patients. Standard therapy for atelectasis relie s on positive pressure ventilation, positive end expiratory pressure ( PEEP), tracheobronchial toilet and regular chest physiotherapy, Variou s adjuncts to physiotherapy such as bronchoscopic clearance of secreti ons have not proved to be of additional benefit, Bronchoscopic clearan ce of secretions followed by insufflation of room air at 30 cm H2O int o the atelectatic segment was employed on ten occasions in mechanicall y ventilated patients. Rapid re-expansion of the collapsed segment or lobe occurred in seven out of the ten treatments.