Post lobectomy atelectasis: the use of a Servo 900 B as a high-frequency ventilator.

High-frequency ventilation (HFV) has been used with good results in a variety of clinical situations where conventional ventilation has proved ineffective. However, all of the reports so far have involved the use of a specially purchased specifically designed ventilator which tends to be unfamiliar to most medical and nursing staff responsible for its use. A case where HFV was used in combination with differential lung ventilation in the treatment of unilateral pulmonary atelectasis is described using a Servo 900B as the high-frequency ventilator. It serves to demonstrate that the Servo 900B can be used as an occasional high-frequency ventilator as required, thus avoiding the expense of purchasing a specialized ventilator.