Eleven newborn infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were artificially ventilated with an intermittent positive pressure respirator while a continuous negative pressure of ––4 to ––8 cm H2O was maintained about the chest; thereby achieving the equivalent positive of pressure ventilation. Although only two infants ultimately survived, arterial oxygen tension was improved in all patients, with a mean rise of 69.8 ± 17.3 mm Hg. Simultaneously, the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference fell·by a mean of 63.7 ± 18.4 mm Hg, even though the infants had not improved on preceding trials of both intermittent negative and intermittent positive pressure ventilation alone. These changes are significant at a level of p < 0.01. The maintenance of a continuous transpulmonary pressure gradient is an effective method for improving arterial oxygenation in infants requiring mechanical ventilation for the respiratory failure of RDS.

Keywords:
Ventilation, Respiratory distress syndrome
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© 1973 S. Karger AG, Basel
1973
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