[Assisted ventilation in infants with acute bronchiolitis]. / La ventilation assistée des bronchiolites aiguës du nourrisson.

Our experience concerns 36 infants ventilated for bronchiolitis over the last five years. Among the infants admitted in the pediatric department during the same period 11% have been ventilated. Their age ranged between 1.5 and 49.5 weeks (mean 9.2 weeks) and their weight between 2,700 and 8,000 g (mean 3,841 g). Fourteen were premature born infants. 16 patients have been intubated for apneas, 13 for clinical deterioration and 10 for hypercarbia. The duration of ventilation ranged between 1 and 18 days (mean 6.5 days). No death occurred. Neither neurological nor respiratory sequelae could be related to ventilation. Mechanical ventilation is a safe method able to suppress mortality in infants bronchiolitis.