Pulmonary embolism: high-frequency jet ventilation offers advantages over conventional mechanical ventilation.

After injecting autologous muscle to induce massive pulmonary embolism, the effects of high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) were compared with those of controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) in anesthetized, paralyzed dogs. HFJV better maintained both alveolar ventilation and oxygenation than did CMV. Moreover, PaO2, cardiac index, and oxygen delivery were greater with HFJV than with CMV when the two modes of ventilation were compared at the same PaCO2.