Effect of open lung ventilation on respiratory mechanics and haemodynamics in acute lung injury infants after cardiopumonary bypass

AIM:To investigate the effects of open lung ventilation on the haemodynamics and respiratory mechanics in infants with acute lung injury (ALI) after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Sixty-four infants with ALI undergoing open-heart surgery were randomized into Group A of no-lung recruitment maneuver (N-LRM), with only low tidal volume, and Group B of lung recruitment maneuver (LRM), with low tidal volume and lung recruitment maneuver remedy. RESULTS: The oxygenation was remarkably improved after LRM in group B. PaO2 in Group B was significantly higher than that in group A ［(284±19) mmHg vs. (78±18) mmHg, P< 0.01］ and the respiratory mechanics in group B was superior to those in group A. No significant difference was observed in the haemodynamics between the two groups. CONCLUSION: LRM improves the oxygenation and the respiratory mechanics but has no obvious side effect on haemodynamics in infants with ALI after cardiopulmonary bypass.