CONTROLLED MECHANICAL HYPOVENTILATION IN A PEDIATRIC BURN PATIENT AS TREATMENT OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY-DISTRESS SYNDROME

The paediatric patient we are describing suffered a scald injury cover ing 83 per cent of the total body surface area (TBSA). This injury was complicated by Klebsiella pneumoniae septicaemia resulting in multior gan failure (MOF). Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), gastroi ntestinal insufficiency, hepathopathy and wound conversion to full thi ckness posed the main problems. The boy was ventilated with pressure-c ontrolled mechanical ventilation. The concept of permissive hypercapni a (PHC) resulted in a complete resolution of ARDS within 4 weeks. From our experience, further lung injury among infants and children suffer ing from severe ARDS can be avoided by using controlled mechanical hyp oventilation. It is a simple and safe technique that allows adequate o xygenation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd for ISBI.