A novel lung recruitment technique in pediatric patients with congenital heart diseases: A case series

BACKGROUND : Lung recruitment techniques are employed to help in improvement of pulmonary mechanics, facilitate early weaning, and shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation. We are reporting a novel lung recruitment technique employed in four children with left lung atelectasis, who underwent corrective surgery for congenital heart disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS : From January 2020 to March 2021, four pediatric cardiac patients having left lung atelectasis, undergoing corrective surgery were subjected to lung recruitment technique and had elective endobronchial intubation and suctioning with chest physiotherapy in the form of vibration and percussion. This was done along with intermittent ventilation with 100% oxygen. RESULTS : Successful recruitment of lung segments and clearance of atelectasis were confirmed by auscultation and chest X-ray in all four patients. All the cases were successfully weaned off the ventilator within 24–48 h. One patient had an opposite lung collapse after extubation, which was managed conservatively with chest physiotherapy. Another patient had bradycardia and desaturation during the procedure, which was improved after withdrawing the tube and instituting two lung ventilation with 100% oxygen. CONCLUSIONS : This novel lung recruitment technique helps in recruitment of collapsed lung segments and thus helps in early weaning and shortens the duration of mechanical ventilation.