Introduction: Experience with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) after congenital cardiac surgery is limited despite evidence about reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance after the Fontan procedure. HFOV is recommended in adults and children with acute respiratory distress syndrome. The aim of the present study was to assess associations between commencement of HFOV on the day of surgery and length of mechanical ventilation, length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay and mortality in neonates and infants with respiratory distress following cardiac surgery.
Methods: A logistic regression model was used to develop a propensity score, which accounted for the probability of being switched from conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) to HFOV on the day of surgery. It included baseline characteristics, type of procedure and postoperative variables, and was used to match each patient with HFOV with a control patient, in whom CMV was used exclusively. Length of mechanical ventilation, ICU stay and mortality rates were compared in the matched set.
Results: Overall, 3,549 neonates and infants underwent cardiac surgery from January 2001 through June 2010, 120 patients were switched to HFOV and matched with 120 controls. After adjustment for the delay to sternal closure, duration of renal replacement therapy, occurrence of pulmonary hypertension and year of surgery, the probability of successful weaning over time and the probability of ICU delivery over time were significantly higher in patients with HFOV, adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals: 1.63, 1.17 to 2.26 (P = 0.004). and 1.65, 95% confidence intervals: 1.20 to 2.28 (P = 0.002) respectively. No association was found with mortality.
Conclusions: When commenced on the day of surgery in neonates and infants with respiratory distress following cardiac surgery, HFOV was associated with shorter lengths of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay than CMV.