A case in which high frequency oscillatory ventilation was useful for treating respiratory failure during a Starnes operation for a neonate with Ebstein's anomaly

Abstract

 The patient was a female neonate aged 0 days, diagnosed with Ebstein's anomaly before birth. She was delivered by urgent cesarean section due to low amniotic fluid and fetal bradycardia. Since conservative treatment was not effective due to continued hypoxia and circulatory failure, an urgent Starnes operation was performed. After a cardiopulmonary bypass in the procedure, respiratory failure with clearly deteriorated airway compliance was observed, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was considered. However, high frequency oscillatory ventilation successfully improved the respiratory failure. High frequency oscillatory ventilation may be useful for treating respiratory failure during Starnes operations for neonates with Ebstein's anomaly.