High frequency jet ventilation - its use in respiratory insufficiency. Two case reports.

High frequency jet ventilation was used in two patients with severe pulmonary disease, one of whom was deteriorating and the other not improving on a conventional regime of antibiotics, physiotherapy and intermittent positive pressure ventilation. In our first case high frequency jet ventilation was achieved using one side of a double lumen endotracheal tube, whilst intermittent positive pressure ventilation was applied to the other side. In the second case a specially designed endotracheal tube with a distal jetting orifice was employed. In both cases there was marked improvement in chest X-ray appearance, arterial blood gas analysis and clinical condition, permitting resumption of spontaneous ventilation, extubation and eventual discharge from the Intensive Therapy Unit.