Current trends in ventilation of the pediatric patient.

This article presents an overview of the varied modes of ventilation and supportive adjuncts for the pediatric patient. Ventilatory management has changed over the past few decades with the advent of high-frequency ventilation, pressure control-inverse ratio, pressure-regulated volume control, volume support, noninvasive bi-level pressure ventilation such as BiPAP, and the emergence of adjuncts to improve oxygenation such as surfactant, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, nitric oxide, and total and partial liquid ventilation. Ventilatory management of pediatric patients mandates an armamentarium including guided imagery and the use of speech enhancers. A multidisciplinary team approach is essential.