LONGEST REPORTED USE OF INDEPENDENT LUNG VENTILATION IN A PATIENT WITH MULTIFACTORIAL RESPIRATORY FAILURE

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:Independent lung ventilation (ILV) is a technique employed for patients with unilateral or discordant lung injury who have failed conventional mechanical ventilation. This mode of ventilation is initiated using a double lumen endotracheal tube (DLT). Two ventilators are titrated to optimize oxygenation and ventilation, while minimizing ventilator induced lung injury. The longest documented use of ILV in trauma to date is 17 days. The following case describes successful use of ILV for 38 days in a critically injured patient with bronchopleural fistula (BPF), pulmonary contusion and pneumonia.