An evaluation of cannulae and oxygen sources for pediatric jet ventilation

The authors evaluated the cannulae and oxygen sources available for pediatric translaryngeal ventilation. Peak flow rates were measured and maximum tidal volumes (MTV) calculated for each combination of cannula and oxygen source. Standard 22, 20, 18, and 16 gauge intravenous catheters and a 14 gauge cannula designed for pediatric jet ventilation were tested. The oxygen sources evaluated included an adult bag-valve device; a continuous flow source regulated between 6 to 15 L/min; and a high pressure jet source regulated between 5 to 50 psi. Mean calculated MTV delivered to the cannula tip (22 g to 14 g) were: 26 to 235 mL with the bag-valve source; 91 to 236 mL with the continuous flow sources; and 58 to 1034 mL with the jet sources. Assuming that in normal subjects approximately 70% of the flow from the tip of a translaryngeal cannula reaches the distal respiratory tree, the authors conclude that bag-valve and continuous flow low pressure sources are unlikely to deliver sufficient tidal volumes to sustain normal ventilation in apneic children when coupled with standard cannulae. Jet oxygen sources with standard cannulae provide a wide range of tidal volumes, sufficient to sustain normal ventilation in apneic pediatric patients.