Translating an Adult Ventilator Computer Protocol to Pediatric Critical Care

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a strategy for ventilator management (ventilator management protocol) that was developed in adult intensive care units for patients with Acute Lung Injury (ALI) or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). The goal was to investigate the changes related to the size and scale of usual ventilator management practices and to determine acceptability of recommendations from a computer protocol for ventilator management. Results found that ventilator management varies substantially in children with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Analysis also showed that although acceptance rates for a computer protocol were good, there was little consensus regarding the size/scale of ventilator setting changes for children with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.