Nursing care of the neonate receiving high-frequency jet ventilation.

Respiratory distress remains a major source of morbidity and mortality among infants, despite advances in conventional mechanical ventilation over the past 20 years. High-frequency jet ventilation provides an alternative treatment modality for neonates suffering from pulmonary air leak syndromes, such as pulmonary interstitial emphysema and pneumothorax. This new technology presents special challenges to the nurse caring for these critically ill neonates and their families.