Liquid ventilation in adults, children, and full-term neonates

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of partial liquid ventilation in a series of 19 adults, children, and neonates who were in respiratory failure and on extracorporeal life support. During partial liquid ventilation, the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference decreased from 590 (SE 25) to 471 (42) mm Hg (p=0·0002) and static pulmonary compliance increased from 0·18 (0·04) to 0·29 (0·04) mL cm H2O-1 kg-1 (p=0·0002). 11 patients (58%) survived. These preliminary data suggest that partial liquid ventilation can be safely used in patients with severe respiratory failure and may improve lung function.