[Assisted ventilation in infants with acute bronchiolitis].

Our experience concerns 36 infants ventilated for bronchiolitis over the last five years. Among the infants admitted in the pediatric department during the same period 11% have been ventilated. Their age ranged between 1.5 and 49.5 weeks (mean 9.2 weeks) and their weight between 2,700 and 8,000 g (mean 3,841 g). Fourteen were premature born infants. 16 patients have been intubated for apneas, 13 for clinical deterioration and 10 for hypercarbia. The duration of ventilation ranged between 1 and 18 days (mean 6.5 days). No death occurred. Neither neurological nor respiratory sequelae could be related to ventilation. Mechanical ventilation is a safe method able to suppress mortality in infants bronchiolitis.