Nasal continuous positive airway pressure with heliox in infants with acute bronchiolitis

SummaryThis is the first study aiming to assess the effects of heliox in combination with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (Hx-nCPAP) as a rescue treatment in infants with refractory acute bronchiolitis.Fifteen out of 78 infants with acute bronchiolitis consecutively admitted to PICU fulfilled the inclusion criteria: clinical score ⩾5 or arterial oxygen saturation (SatO2)⩽92% or PCO2>50mmHg, despite supportive therapy, nebulized l-epinephrine, and heliox therapy through non-rebreathing reservoir facemask. Hx-nCPAP was added as a rescue treatment. Baseline mean (standard deviation) values were: clinical score of 7.4 (1.2) points; PCO2 of 63.8 (12)mmHg; respiratory rate (RR) of 66.4 (9.9); and SatO2 of 88.6 (4.7)%.Clinical score, PCO2, RR and SatO2 improved during the study time (P