Continuous positive airway pressure breathing in the postoperative management of the cardiac infant

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Abstract
Crew, A. D., Varkonyi, P. I., Gardner, L. G., Robinson, Q. L. A., Wall, E., and Deverall, P. B. (1974).Thorax, 29, 437-445. Continuous positive airway pressure breathing in the postoperative management of the cardiac infant. Continuous positive airway pressure with spontaneous ventilation was used in the postoperative period following palliative or corrective surgery for congenital heart defects in a group of children of less than 3 years of age. After stabilization of the cardiovascular state, continuous positive airway pressure breathing (CPAP) was shown to be a suitable alternative to continuous positive pressure ventilation (CPPV). A statistically significant increase in PaO2 was observed on changing from CPPV to CPAP. A statistically significant decrease in PaO2 and increase in pulmonary venous admixture was observed after discontinuing the positive airway pressure and allowing the patient to breathe at ambient pressure.