[Noninvasive ventilation with heliox in an infant with acute respiratory distress syndrome]

Abstract

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) combined with heliox therapy (Hx) constitutes a therapeutic option in the management of adult patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Either NIV or Hx alone can also be effective in pediatric patients, but there are no published reports on their combined use. We describe the case of a 4-month-old infant with acute respiratory insufficiency due to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to respiratory syncytial virus infection, successfully treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure and heliox (Hx-nCPAP). A commercially available nCPAP ventilator adapted for heliox use was employed for Hx-nCPAP application. This is the first report of the use of Hx-nCPAP in an infant.