Volume ventilation of infants with congenital heart disease: A comparison of Dräger, NAD 6000 and Siemens, Servo 900C ventilators

We compared the ventilation and pulmonary mechanics produced by a new anesthesia ventilator (NAD 6000) using a circle system with that produced by a critical care ventilator (Servo 900C) using a nonrebreathing circuit in infants with congenital heart disease. Twenty patients, aged 1 day to 7 mo, weighing 2.1 to 4.6 kg, were studied. The NAD 6000 had improved alveolar ventilation: Paco₂ 43 ± 8 vs 47 ± 5 mm Hg (P = 0.005), end-tidal CO₂ 34 ± 7 vs 37 ± 5 mm Hg (P = 0.042); larger inspired tidal volumes 12.9 ± 2.8 vs 11.3 ± 2.2 mL/kg (P < 0.001), but with higher mean airway pressures 9.7 ± 1.6 vs 8.6 ± 1.3 cm H20 (P < 0.001). These differences in ventilation and airway pressures were not clinically significant. Although there were differences in observed ventilatory variables, both machines provided adequate ventilation when set in the volume control mode.