High frequency oscillatory ventilation as the most appropriate treatment for life threatening thoracic trauma

Acute respiratory failure is common in trauma patients and can be a threat to life in severe thoracic injury. We represent a case of severe respiratory failure after blunt thoracic injury with uncontrollable bleeding and massive air leak which was successfully managed with high frequency oscillatory ventilation. In our opinion high frequency oscillatory ventilation represent a safe and effective treatment of life threatening acute respiratory failure in trauma patients.

traumatic lung injury, hypoxemic respiratory failure, air leak, cardiac arrest

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