Respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia ventilated with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation.

Four infants below 6 months of age with proven respiratory syncytial virus infection in need of assisted mechanical ventilation were successfully treated by high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. One of the four infants fulfilled the criteria for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation before the start of oscillation, and one on the second day on high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. However, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was not needed in any of the infants. All survived, and three appeared to be without any pulmonary sequelae.