Supralaryngeal tubeless combined high-frequency jet ventilation for laser surgery of the larynx and trachea.

We have developed a new technique of combined high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV), characterized by simultaneous application of a low-frequency (LF) and a high-frequency (HF) jet stream. Tubeless supralaryngeal jet ventilation was delivered via a modified Kleinsasser laryngoscope. We studied 44 adults undergoing 45 elective surgical procedures of the larynx and trachea using a carbon dioxide laser during HFJV. Applied inspiratory oxygen ratios ranged from 0.4 to 1.0. Mean driving pressures of the HF and LF jet streams were 1.5 bar and 1.8 bar in adults, respectively. Mean duration of HFJV was 41 (range 10-180) min. HFJV resulted in mean PaO2 and PaCO2 values of 16.6 (range 9.8-26.9) kPa and 5.7 (3.0-7.6) kPa, respectively. Tubeless supralaryngeal HFJV was safe and effective in maintaining gas exchange in the presence of laryngeal or tracheal stenoses, providing optimal visibility of anatomical structures, offering maximum space for surgical manipulation, and avoiding the use of combustible material inside the larynx or trachea.