Objectives: To examine the physiologic impact of the jaw-thrust maneuver or the administration of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on tidal breathing in deeply sedated infants.
Study design: Prospective, non-randomized study of infants undergoing elective fiberoptic bronchoscopy while sedated with intermittent doses of propofol.
Methods: Spontaneous tidal breathing was measured in the supine position by means of a spirometer attached to a bronchoscopy face mask. Tidal breaths were recorded under the following conditions: (1) neutral sniffing position, (2) jaw-thrust, (3) neutral sniffing position, and (4) CPAP of 5 cm H(2)O. Improvement was defined as a change of more than twice the coefficient of variation of repeated measurements of tidal volume and flows from baseline.
Results: Jaw-thrust increased tidal volume, minute ventilation, and peak tidal inspiratory and expiratory flows significantly in all 13 infants studied (mean +/- SEM age = 8 +/- 2 months). CPAP increased peak tidal inspiratory and expiratory flows by more than twice the coefficient of variation of baseline measurements in 6 patients and tidal volume and minute ventilation in 5 of 10 patients studied.
Conclusion: Jaw-thrust and CPAP are effective techniques to improve ventilation of sedated infants undergoing interventions that compromise upper airway patency.