Further Modification of Adult Ventilators for Use with Infants

Abstract

In order to provide mechanical ventilation of infants with the newer modalities (IMV, PEEP, CPAP, and altered inspiratory:expiratory ratios) using adult ventilators, two infant patient circuits have been developed. One is a circuit for the Bennett MA-1 ventilator; the other is a circuit for the Elema-Schölander Servo 900 B ventilator. The compressible volume of the Bennett MA-1 with the infant patient circuit is 0.88 cc/cm H2O. The compressible volume of the Elema-Schölander Servo 900 B with the infant patient circuit is 0.69 cc/cm H2O. To date, the Bennett MA-1 infant patient circuit has been used to ventilate 80 postoperative cardiac surgical patients. The Elema-Schölander infant patient circuit has been used to ventilate 12 postoperative cardiac surgical patients.