Background: Liquid Ventilation consists of partially or completely filling the lungs with a fluid (perfluorcarbon). This brings about elimination of the air-liquid interface and reduction of the surface tension in lungs with surfactant deficiency. This article focuses on the role of liquid ventilation in the treatment of acute respiratory failure in children.
Methods: A systematic review of literature was conducted using MEDLINE, LILACS and COCHRANE LIBRARY databases and references of articles. Match terms were: Liquid Ventilation, Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Meconium Aspiration Syndrome, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Randomized clinical trials, cohort studies and case control studies were searched for. Blood oxygenation, respiratory mechanics and survival were the outcomes evaluated.
Results: Two hundred eighty four publications related to liquid ventilation were selected during the study period: 19 (7.5%) were clinical trials and only six of them focused on the use of Liquid Ventilation in children. All six publications were characterized as phase I and II clinical trials and analyzed separately.
Conclusions: Upon analysis of these trials it was concluded that, because of the lack of controlled and randomized clinical trials, liquid ventilation cannot be recommended as a therapy for children with acute respiratory failure.