Pressure-controlled inverse-ratio ventilation in children with acute respiratory failure.

We report the use of pressure-controlled inverse-ratio ventilation in two children with acute respiratory failure who were failing conventional mechanical ventilation. The children had subsequent improvement in oxygenation and ventilation without hemodynamic compromise. Pressure-controlled inverse-ratio ventilation was well tolerated by one patient who had increased intracranial pressure secondary to head injury. We were able to successfully hyperventilate, improve oxygenation and control intracranial pressure in this patient while using pressure-controlled inverse-ratio ventilation, which may prove to be an alternative method of ventilation for children with severe lung disease.