The Sensormedics 3100A (Cardinal Health, Dublin, OH) (HFOV) and the Bronchotron (Percussionaire, Sandpoint, ID) (HFPV) are high-frequency ventilation devices used to support neonatal respiratory failure; however, a comparison of the devices, with respect to gas exchange at similar ventilator settings, has not been previously studied. Thus, we compared the ability of HFOV to that of HFPV to provide oxygenation and ventilation during acute lung injury in a newborn animal model. Using a saline lung lavage model, 12 neonatal piglets were randomized to initial support with either the HFOV or HFPV with settings adjusted to achieve PaCO2 of 45-60 mmHg. After stabilization, ventilator settings and arterial blood gases were serially recorded for 30 min. Animals were then crossed over to the alternative device set to deliver the same V(t), MAP, and F for an additional 30 min with the same parameters recorded. We found that the DeltaP needed to generate adequate V(t) on HFPV (35 +/- 7 cm H2O) trended higher versus HFOV (31 +/- 7 cm H2O P = 0.09) when the devices were matched for V(t), F, and MAP. No significant differences in ventilation (PaCO(2) = 50 +/- 10.7 mmHg vs. 46 +/- 10 mmHg, P = 0.22) or oxygenation (PaO2 = 150 +/- 76 mmHg vs. 149 +/- 107 mmHg, P = 0.57) between the devices were found. We conclude that HFPV ventilates and oxygenates as well as HFOV at equivalent ventilator settings. HFPV may require larger DeltaP's to generate equivalent V(t).

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