Effects of open endotracheal suction on lung volume in infants receiving HFOV

To describe the pattern and magnitude of lung volume change during open endotracheal tube (ETT) suction in infants receiving high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). Prospective observational clinical study. Tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. Seven intubated and muscle-relaxed newborn infants receiving HFOV. Open ETT suction was performed for 6 s at -100 mmHg using a 6-F catheter passed to the ETT tip after disconnection from HFOV. The HFOV was then recommenced at the same settings as prior to ETT suction. Change in lung volume (DeltaV (L)) referenced to baseline lung volume before suction was measured with a calibrated respiratory inductive plethysmography recording from 30 s before until 60 s after ETT suction. In all infants ETT suction resulted in significant loss of lung volume. The mean DeltaV (L) during suctioning was -13 ml/kg (SD 4 ml/kg) (p0.05, Tukey post-test). Open ETT suction caused a significant but transient loss of lung volume in muscle-relaxed newborn infants receiving HFOV.