Bronchofiberscopic jet ventilation.

The suction-biopsy channel of a flexible bronchofiberscope was used to provide subglottic jet ventilation in six dogs and eight adult human subjects. In dogs, after 75 minutes of ventilation at a driving pressure of 2580 torr/cm2 (50 lb/in2) the PaO2 was 412 +/- 18 torr and the PaCO2 32 +/- 3 torr with a peak airway pressure of 6 torr. In patients, after 30 minutes of jet ventilation, the PaO2 varied from 347 to 480 torr, the PaCO2 from 17 to 36 torr, and peak tracheal pressure from 6 to 8 torr. The method is convenient, simple and applicable in a variety of clinical situations.