[Mechanical ventilation in infants and children].

Mechanical ventilation is a palliative treatment of acute respiratory failure. It is indicated whenever no immediate and effective causative treatment is applicable. The respiratory pump defect is counterbalanced by an artificial ventilation. The causes of acute respiratory failure extend far beyond the field of pulmonary pathology. The main respiratory characteristics of children are due their high mean metabolic status: they have high minute respiration, fast respiratory rate and I/E ratios that are near to 1. Two categories of respirators are used in the 28 days to 15 years age range. Infants are treated with the same continuous flow, time-controlled and limited pressure respirators as used in neonates. Older children are treated with controlled volume respirators which have also been modified for use in younger children. Continuous supervision is mandatory in all infants and children under mechanical ventilation.