Medical intelligence article: novel uses of high frequency ventilation outside the operating room.

High frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) is a technique that is most frequently used in the intensive care unit and during tracheal and otorhinolaryngologic surgery. The utility of HFJV for procedures performed outside of the intensive care unit and operating room is currently being explored. The ability of HFJV to provide mechanical ventilation, yet achieve near static conditions of the chest and abdomen, makes it a very appealing technique for procedures such as pulmonary vein isolation and ablation for atrial fibrillation, targeted radiation therapy for lung and liver tumors, and certain diagnostic imaging techniques.